Rethinking 24 August
If participating political forces can redefine the day and use it for their interest, it could be of major significance to Egypt’s transition to democracy
Ziad A. Akl
96 Articles
Ziad A. Akl is a political analyst and sociologist. He is a senior researcher at the Egyptian Studies Unit in Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
Latest by Ziad A. Akl
Sinai: Unanswered questions
Like many other Egyptians, the attack on the Egyptian soldiers in Sinai last Sunday took me by surprise. The cause of my surprise was not the timing of the attack in Ramadan, or that it was done at Iftar time, or that a Muslim could kill a fellow Muslim during Ramadan (a few of the …
Qandil’s Government: failing the political diversity test
It is too early to judge the policies or the performance of Hesham Qandil’s government, but it is a suitable time to judge the political significance of its makeup and what this represents. The selection of ministers in Qandil’s government is the first real step towards creating President Mohamed Morsy’s administration. During his first month …
The “civil” and the “religious”: maintaining the distinction
Among the social and political effects of the rise of the post-revolutionary Islamic elite in Egypt is a harmful blurring between the civil and religious spheres. The two realms were often conflated in Egypt long before the revolution but this trend has been continued even further by Islamist forces in the past year-and-a-half. The start …
Military Trials and Morsi’s Amnesty
Ever since Morsi’s victory in the presidential election, calls have been escalating for a presidential intervention in to cases where civilians have been detained in military prisons and tried before military courts. Regardless of the motives; whether a response to political pressure or genuine compassion for the cause, Morsi has promised to put the issue …
Resurrecting the parliament: winners and losers
The 24-hour parliament resurrection was a direct benefit to both the Brotherhood and the SCAF, and a long-term dividing factor to the already divided secular opposition forces in Egypt.