Abdelrahman (2013) Flashcards
How does the text see the transformation of Egyptian Activists ?
Egyptian activists who protested against Mubarak’s regime for over a decade transitioned from being protestors in loosely structured networks to being regarded as ‘revolutionaries’ expected to shape the future of Egypt.
What are some characteristics of NSMs ?
New Social Movements are characterized by decentralized and segmented organizational structures, diffuse boundaries, and dependence on members rather than centralized leadership for initiating activities.
What are the post-Mubarak power dynamics like ?
After Mubarak’s ousting in 2011, power dynamics in Egypt shifted, with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) vying for control.
How were activists qualified concerning their importance to the movement ?
Despite their significant role in the uprising, activists who challenged the repressive regime found themselves marginalized in the power struggle that followed Mubarak’s removal.
What are the challenges of organizational structures ?
The absence of sustainable organizational structures, a characteristic of NSMs, poses a challenge to achieving genuine revolutionary change in the post-Mubarak era.
What does the slogan mean ?
The Slogan = ‘The Revolution Continues’
This slogan represents the ongoing waves of protests by various groups in Egypt since February 2011, indicating that the potential for revolutionary change still exists.
What were Mubarak’s counter-revolutionary forces ?
The inability of protestors/revolutionaries to develop effective structures allows counter-revolutionary forces like SCAF, the Mubarak elite, and the MB’s leadership to hinder more radical change.
How are NSMs different from old social movements ?
NSMs differ from ‘old’ social movements in that their political objective is not necessarily to capture the state, but to challenge traditional politics and establish decentralized alternatives.
However, the presence of a coherent revolutionary organization significantly impacts the ability to seize control and shape political outcomes during a period of transition.
How do NSM view state-oriented action ?
NSMs are characterized by a deep suspicion of state-oriented action, and activists are more focused on challenging traditional politics than on taking over state power.
How do activists see the leninist revolutionary party model ?
The model of a Leninist revolutionary party with a rigid hierarchy and centralization of power is viewed unfavourably by activists due to its perceived opposition to spontaneity and radicalism.
What is the debate concerning the nature of the Egyptian uprising ?
Scholars continue to debate whether the events in Egypt constitute a revolution, transition to democracy, reform movement, or something else.
What did the ousting of Mubarak trigger in the Egyptian political world ?
The ousting of Mubarak marked a juncture at which new and old actors in Egypt became locked in a power contest with the potential to reshape the political landscape.
What is refo-lution ?
Coined by Asef Bayat, the term ‘refo-lution’ refers to the potential of uprisings in the Arab World within the context of existing models of revolutions and political transformations.
