How was our world this week?

 Mafalda: democracy (from the greek δεμοσ; people, and κρατοσ; authority) Government in which the people exercises the sovereignty.

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak‘s refusal to step down from power on the pretext that he fears his departure will lead to chaos reminds me of Louis XIV ominous saying: “After me, the Deluge!”

Despite the unequivocal demand (“leave, leave, leave”) of the tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square for the past twelve days and growing international pressures calling for an immediate transition, president Mubarak appears determined to cling on to power.

As the absolute monarch, Louis XIV, his assertion seems to suggest himself as the holder of the keys for a peaceful and better Egypt. However after days of peaceful protests, rumours have emerged that the bloody confrontations between Mubarak's followers and detractors had been orchestrated by the president  himself with the use of “police in plain clothes to launch the attacks against the anti-regime protesters” (FT 04/02/11)  in a bid to showcase the disastrous consequences of violence his departure could lead to. Louis XIV ‘s departure was followed by the French Revolution which bequeathed French people with the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, principle that has inspired Liberal Democracies throughout the world.  Would it be delusional to hope that the deluge the president Mubarak refers to is a Democratic wave across the Arab World?

 (ft.com)

Are we witnessing an Islamic Revolution for Democracy?

Although reality and aspirations do not always add up, what is sure is that we are witnessing an historical period of change in the Middle East. Are we? The apparent falling apart of an old regime that followed the French Revolution, turned out to be just a transfer of power to a new ruling elite. The support that has preceded protests in Egypt from both the US and Iran clearly reflects that the dices were not thrown just yet. The 1979s Iranian revolution managed to overthrow the Shah’s oppressive and corrupt regime just to lead way to a theocratic regime. However, it is clear that whatever happens in Egypt will have dramatic consequences in the rest of the Arab World. Indeed, Tunisian and Egypt turmoils have  already started to shake Arab autocracies (Jordan, Yemen and Algeria ). I am hopeful however, that Egypt's political scenario will evolve towards a democratic regime considering the fact that protestors do not limit their petitions to the departure of President Mubarak but ask for more freedoms too. Furthermore the diversity of the protesters involved in the upheaval indicates that if successful the revolution could lead to a pluralist society.

I believe restricting the issue to an Islamic Revolution for Democracy is an error. Thus, it limits unnecessarily the wave to a specific region forgetting that countries, notably in Africa, that have experienced a similar fate to Egypt and Tunisia could be equally inspired by those recent events. Egypt is not the only country in Africa where we have seen a president in power for over thirty years.The Tunisians and Egyptians have shown that political changes can be led by the people. This demonstration of possible self-determination will hopefully awake apathetic citizen in developing countries!

democratic movements in the Arab World (france - info.com)