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Egypt

The Egyptian revolution must continue without the tutelage of the army

Wednesday 10 July 2013, by Izquierda Anticapitalista

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This statement by Izquierda Anticapitalista represents a generally held opinion in the Fourth International. It was adoped on Monday 8 July, 2013.

Neither Morsi nor the army represents the aspirations for freedom and social justice

The enormous mobilizations in Egypt that preceded the fall of Morsi have shown the increasing social rejection of their reactionary and increasingly authoritarian neoliberal project. The Muslim Brotherhood were not originally involved in the Egyptian revolution, but after the fall of Mubarak they became the main political force in the country as the only organization opposed to Mubarak with a strong implantation and social basis. Their work in government has made it clear that their political project is far from the popular aspirations that brought down the dictator in 2011.

From the protests against Mubarak in January 2011, the Army — the most significant economic and political institution in the country — has had as its sole intention assuring an “ordered transition”, as well as channelling popular aspirations in directions which do not threaten the structures of power. For that reason, it established an initial entente with the Muslim Brotherhood with the aim of directing the revolutionary process towards moderation without structural economic changes. Now, following the establishment of the Muslim Brotherhood’s inability to guarantee the stability of the country, the Army has broken its alliance with Morsi.

The popular mobilization against the latter shows the firm determination of the Egyptian people to deepen the aspirations to freedom and social justice that led to the fall of Mubarak in February 2011. But the outcome of this intense mobilization, with the taking of control by the Army by means of a coup d’état, also shows the enormous weaknesses of the revolutionary process. In particular, it emphasizes the absence of a political pole favourable to social justice and the deepening of the revolution. It is the absence of a political alternative linked to the popular mobilization which has allowed the Army and its allies to take the initiative in trying to channel post-Morsi scenario towards their interests.

A period of great uncertainty for the revolutionary process has therefore opened. The determination and capacity for struggle of the Egyptian people have been well demonstrated, but also the strength of the forces of order and the Army, now riding on the popular aspirations. The Egyptian people will have to continue fighting to avoid their desire for change being reined in from above and to prevent any authoritarian reversion by the army and its allies, as well as to avoid the country slipping into a witch-hunt against the Muslim Brotherhood or any other organizations that are against the government, and a civil confrontation that adds to the chaos and can, in addition, be utilized by the army and reaction to impose an authoritarian reversion.

Izquierda Anticapitalista considers that for all this the social mobilization and popular self-organization of the Egyptian people are necessary as well as the construction of a democratic pole, of those on the left and those favourable to social justice, to advance so that the revolution is not snatched from them by those who want everything to change so that things remain the same.

The original is here La revolución egipcia debe continuar sin tutelas del ejército.