10 years on – Why the Arab Spring still matters
Lessons from the Arab Spring
Part of an online talk I gave few months ago, organized by Marx21, on lessons from the first wave of Arab revolutions. I discussed five points:
– Revolution is a process.
– You cannot take over the state institutions. You have to smash them.
– The need for a revolutionary organization.
– The question of Islamism.
– The street, ballot box, and the need to confront ultra-leftism.
In a time of hysteria, blame must go around
One must denounce firmly the abuses of the state against Islamists. Sisi is employing the “dirty war” manual by the letter. Yet, the hypocrisy and the sectarianism of Islamist leaders cannot also be forgiven.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdas
I’ve just finished watching the gruesome new video released an hour ago by Ansar Beit al-Maqdas. The video on YouTube went viral, but it was taken down after being reported by users. However, it’s already there on DailyMotion and other sites. The links are disseminated widely via Twitter, Islamist forums and Facebook, etc.
It’s ironic, how a small terrorist organization, using social media platforms available for free, can outtake a resourceful state in the propaganda war.