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Youth, Labor and Gendered Voices in the Face of the Egyptian Counterrevolution
Abstract
This paper will examine the contributions of old (April 6th youth movement and Kamal Abu Eita, the leader of the first independent labor union of tax collectors and the current minister of labor) and new actors (public commentators Amr Hamzawy and Nawara Negm)who are employing hybrid tactics and discourses to defend the political and social agendas of the January 25th Egyptian revolution for liberty, social just and human dignity since the military coup of July 3rd 2013. It will trace the evolution of their views, positions and discourses that they have embraced during the last 3 years and how they contributed to the representation of a “middle space” for the discussion of a "politics" that transcended the dominant Islamist versus civilian/liberal divide that the military led transitional led government has resurrected. It offered a double critique of the dominant actors and their positions. Despite the fact that these voices represent minority public views, they were more in line with with the positions of the young men and women who led the protests of 2011 and who 3 years later have largely absented themselves from the referendum on the new constitution that took place on January 14-15, 2014 that was identified with old politics. Egyptian newspapers' coverage of these important actors and their views of the politics of the revolution and counterrevolution will be the main source material for this discussion.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
Egypt
Sub Area
19th-21st Centuries