Why Egypt Matters: A Guide to the Egyptian Protests 2011

The more I bring up what’s happening in Egypt to people, the more questions I get back…like “what is exactly happening over there? And why?” I realized that I myself have only skimmed these stories and seen the violent protests but I really haven’t gotten down to the root of it. So I read up on it and hopefully this will answer most of your questions!!

As the protests continue in Egypt, the international media has become increasingly focused on the Egyptian unrest. But the question many of you are wondering is…why? Why is the story getting so much attention? And why should Egypt matter to us?

There are a number of factors that make Egypt’s unrest important, in both that country, the Middle East, and the world. Below, read about the current Egyptian protests and reasons why Egypt should matter to you.

@ItsLukieBaby

First you’ll need to know what’s going in Egypt and why there are protests..although all these news stories can seem quite large and confusing at times, the answer is quite simple: Protests started on Tuesday, January 25, when–inspired by the successful revolution in Tunisia — thousands began taking to the streets to protest poverty, rampant unemployment, government corruption and autocratic governance of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled the country for 30 years. These were the first protests on such a large scale in Egypt since the 1970s.

So why are these protests important to us? Continue reading…

1) Egypt is a strong U.S. Ally
Egypt has been a key ally for the U.S. in the region since the 1970’s, and is currently the second highest recipient of U.S. foreign aid (after Israel). The Obama administration — from Joe Biden, who refused to call Mubarak a dictator, to Obama himself, who emphasized Egypt’s role as an ally — has been loathe to fully distance itself from Mubarak, and finds itself in a difficult position.

2)Israel-Palestine Peace Treaty
Egypt has served as a key arbitrator in the Israel-Palestine peace process. As one of the few Arab interlocutors in the region, the Mubarak regime has been a powerful go between. According to the Voice Of America, “Israel is extremely concerned about the situation in Egypt because President Hosni Mubarak has preserved the peace treaty between the two countries for 30 years. Israel considers the treaty a strategic asset, and it fears that a regime change in Egypt could put the peace agreement in danger.”

3) Possible Islamist Influence
The current protests are not being organized or dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s powerful Islamist opposition group. However, the BBC reports that there are fears that given a power vacuum created by the removal of Mubarak, these forces could try to step in and exert control. According to the BBC, “[The Muslin Brotherhood] are not in front. They are trying to catch up. But the situation is volatile. New leaders – nationalist or Islamist, civilian or military – could emerge if the country is engulfed in chaos.”

4) The Domino Effect
The protestors have said that they were inspired by the successful revolution in Tunisia, which ousted authoritarian President Ben Ali. Since the protests began, there have been similar protests in Yemen, and Jordan has been mentioned as another possible target for popular protests. If Egypt were to fall, it could give momentum to popular uprisings throughout the region. According to Foreign Policy, there are many young, angry Arab populations ready to protest: “The unhappy youth in Tunisia are not alone in the Arab world. On Jan. 25, tens of thousands of young Egyptians took to the pavement in Cairo and other major Egyptian cities in the largest challenge to President Hosni Mubarak’s regime in a generation. Other crowds have shaken the streets of Sanaa, Algiers, and Amman. And rather than the Arab world’s usual suspects — bearded Islamists or jaded leftists — it is young people, angry at the lack of economic opportunity available to them, who are risking their lives going up against police forces.”

5) Business Concerns
Since the protests began, Egypt’s stock market has plummeted, and nearby Saudi Arabia’s stock index dropped 6 percent on Saturday, reports the AP. Additionally, oil prices have already jumped due to fears over access to the Suez Canal, reports Forbes.

6) Regional Implications
With the strong financial and political backing of the U.S., as well as its own powerful influence, Egypt is a major power broker in te Middle East. As the Economist puts it, “With its strategic situation, its cultural influence and a population double that of any other Arab country, Egypt has for three decades now been the linchpin of a precarious but enduring regional Pax Americana.” If Egypt were to fall into chaos, not only the nation, but also the region, would be deeply affected.

All in all, relations with Egypt is important to us because it has a direct impact on our country. Peace talks, oil, domino effects in other countries, etc. I hope this helped you out a little bit on understanding what’s going on right now!! Remember to stay tuned to IFWT as we bring you updates.

source: HP