David Kirkpatrick and David Sanger published an article in the NYTimes today, “A Tunisian-Egyptian Link That Shook Arab History,” discussing the role of technology in Egypt’s revolution. The young generation of protesters in Egypt used the force of Tunisia’s revolution and advice from protesters from older political movements. The article describes how online democratic participation fueled a revolution strong enough to overthrow the 30-year leader, Hosni Mubarak.
“Young Egyptian and Tunisian activists brainstormed on the use of technology to evade surveillance, commiserated about torture and traded practical tips on how to stand up to rubber bullets and organize barricades.”
“’Tunis is the force that pushed Egypt, but what Egypt did will be the force that will push the world,’ said Walid Rachid, one of the members of the April 6 Youth Movement, which helped organize the Jan. 25 protests that set off the uprising.
In the end despite the tools of the social media, it was the long-held hope of the Egyptain people and especially the youth that made the revolution. Even when these tools were cut off by the government…the protests continued and grew.
In the future it will not be enough to cut off n”ew media” or social media to end a revolution or stop protests. What is required is change that builds fairness and democracy. It helps if the major powers in and outside the region recognize the need for change and are on the right side of history and of democratic values.