Egypt: The next Tunisia?
Inspired by their North African neighbors, Egyptians are marching against the government of President Hosni Mubarak. Will they start a revolution?
The video: On Tuesday, in "an unprecedented display of anti-government rage," tens of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo and other cities to call for the overthrow of the country's longtime president, Hosni Mubarak. (See video below.) Egypt's security forces were initially overwhelmed by the number of protesters, but by Wednesday, they were striking back with more decisive force, unleashing concussion grenades and tear gas on groups of protesters. Four people have been killed in rioting thus far, and the government has banned access to Twitter and possibly Facebook. But will the authoritarian crackdown prevent full-fledged rebellion?
The reaction: When you factor in Egypt's "rising unemployment," "rampant corruption," and "political repression," plus the power of social networks, "it's hard to see how all this won't continue to rumble," says Matt Frei at BBC News. Even if this week's protests die down, they're likely to spring up again soon, and with so many "moving parts" involved in the story, "2011 could still become the Middle East's 1989." And Jody McIntyre at The Independent says that "Mubarak and his gang reacted by trying to keep the news suppressed," but "the plan failed," and the protests will likely continue. The Egyptian dictator has also declared a state of emergency, a tactic he's frequently employed to suppress his rivals. But "Mr. Mubarak, not even that will save you now." Watch a clip of the protests:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is pop music now too reliant on gossip?
Talking Point Taylor Swift's new album has prompted a flurry of speculation over who she is referring to in her songs
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Nuclear near-misses
The Explainer From technical glitches to fateful split-second decisions, the world has come to the brink of nuclear war more times than you might think
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published