The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Democracy in Egypt

By Jason Wentworth

Part I.

Democracy is defined as a form of political organization in which all people exercise equal control through elected representation over the matters which affect their interests. When Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down from office on Feb. 11 after 18 days of non-violent political protest, the country was left in the hands of the Egyptian military. Today Egypt is in a state of limbo, trying to form a fair and functioning democracy.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stresses that the situation in Egypt is a delicate one believing that control could still be seized by an outside influence or an internal one with a negative agenda. The steps that must be taken to ensure that the Egyptian people gain a clear voice in their new democracy are many.

The question I pose is: What steps are those exactly, and where do they begin?’ This an ongoing process that will take many years to achieve true finality.

The recent changes of power in Tunisia and Egypt have sparked inspiration throughout Arab nations in northern Africa and the Middle East. The most important responsibility the newly free citizens are charged with is that they must be successful in their pursuit of democracy for their sake and for the sake of future generations.

Part II will be posted next week.

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