Blog Like an Egyptian

Things get dark in Suez. (Photo: Associated Press)

MSNBC has an interesting piece on the bloggers of Egypt and the effect they’ve had on the current nigh-revolt occurring in the country this week.

Here, we’re just random folks writing stuff in order to help you pass your day and vent your workplace frustrations in a barely constructive manner. But the general tone of this and other blogs betrays the potential power of the medium, particularly in developing nations where leisurely social network sites like Facebook are increasing civic awareness amongst a large segment of youth that has been largely kept in the dark about its government and their role in the world for the better part of their lives.

Egypt is just one of many nation-states where the increase in population over the course of several decades has finally come back to bite them. Where before they claimed power in numbers, those numbers now speak and the establishment aren’t liking what they hear.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ruled the country for thirty years, but his grip has loosened with increased opposition from the country’s youth. Egypt, like so many other countries in the region such as Iran, boasts a population that is overwhelmingly young.

The median age in Egypt is 26.

The anger and frustration of Egyptian youth can be traced back to 2008, when the Egyptian government violently suppressed a textile worker protest in Malhalla. As a result, much of the youth of the country took to Facebook, using it and other social media platforms to form groups such as the April 6th Youth Movement (named after the date of the violent anti-protest initiative).

The recent Tunisian revolt as well as dispatches leaked by the organization Wikileaks exacerbated the situation and have brought things to a head.

Mubarak, once considered a strategic ally of the United States, finds himself under siege. Image via Wikipedia

The leaked documents include correspondence that reveals the special relationship Mubarak has enjoyed with the U.S. has softened in the past couple years, with increased pressure put on him to introduce further reforms and initiate change that would make the country appear more Democratic than its current model.

Yesterday, on the eve of what’s been dubbed “The Day of Rage,” the Egyptian government cut off most phone and internet service. Information and data ceased moving in and out of the country at 5:30 yesterday afternoon (shortly after midnight their time), though updates are still getting out through the aid of dissidents in and around the country.

Despite claims by the Egyptian government that the conservative Muslim Brotherhood group was behind the protests, much of it seems to be decentralized and part of a wider coalition that brings groups like the Muslim Brotherhood together with left-leaning dissidents in the country.

More info: Violent clashes erupt in Egypt (MSNBC.com)

One can only wonder, however, what that means for real change and reform. Recent history has shown that lacking a central voice and leadership, a revolt lead by anger and frustration can quickly be co-opted by another equally suppressive regime.

An interesting story and something to keep an eye on as the day progresses, as we could be witnessing the early embers of a historic moment…for better or for worse.