Egypt: Mubarak Has Lost Control

Writing at The Huffington Post, Adel Iskander argues that on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Egyptian republic which occurred on July 23 of this year, “it appears the regime has little control of political dissent in the country.” While most articles describe Egypt as a nation with “reluctant dissent” and “political passivity,” and assert that “presidential hopeful Elbaradei seems to monopolize coverage of the opposition movement,” Iskander explains that it is the “online framework of dissent” that is leading the opposition. According to Iskander, the Facebook group “We are all Khaled Said,” created in protest against the brutal death of Khaled Said, “is a bustling metropolis of public expression and activism.” Praising the group’s ability to mobilize the opposition, Iskander states that the group’s strength is also derived from its reliance on democratic procedures, such as creating strategies based on opinion polls and online surveys.