Society - Egypt: A Nation in Waiting

A special programme looking at Egypt under Hosni Mubarak. Al Jazeera English has been widely commended for its indepth coverage of the events in Egypt, through multiple modalities: print, photography, video, live streaming. A documentary Al Jazeera prepared in 2008 on Mubarak and Egypt has been rebroadcast on a number of North American educational or news programs. The documentary was done more to explain recent events in 2008 but is a good overview of Mubaraks rise to power, and of the reasons for progressive discontent with him. The main thesis is that when negative economics met negative politics a tipping point was reached. However, in describing a protest by judges against Mubaraks interference in judicial process, the documentary also made clearer to me more of what the current protesters mean by Mubaraks robbing professionals of their dignity to perform their roles. Further, it traces the rise of Gamal Mubarak and how that also has become a tipping point. I recommend the 48 minute video as an excellent backgrounder to todays events, and Mubaraks strategies.