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Discussion of the Arab Spring, the widespread revolts, beginning in Tunisia and Egypt, but rapidly spreading right across the Middle East have, naturally, dominated discussions, both on this list and on a myriad other media. What has probably surprised me, with my long-term interest in Middle East affairs - but with real contacts limited to 6 months Army service at Qassassin in the Canal Zone of Egypt (with limited possibilities because of the 1947/8 cholera epidemic) (and the army involved in trying to deal with the crisis in Palestine), with, some quarter-century later. a three-week visit for a lecture course and advisory visit to Ein Shams University (then the leading Egyptian Agricultural University, in Cairo), which resulted in many long-time professional contacts (nearly all of whom were so demanding of political discussions - with the Palestine problem still uppermost) .... (Apologies for that long sentence !!) What has surprised me is the extent of the immediate determination to ORGANISE - on a basis which was really surprising after so many years of repression (and, indeed, often rather better than we organise our demonstrations in Britain !!). And what I mean by surprising organisation is not MERELY organising for political demands, but, in Egypt the immediate organisation of medical facilities, rubbish clearance, organisation for looking after lost property etc etc in Tahir Square - all of which would have seemed impossible for such so long repressed masses to organise themselves just from a realisation of the obvious need for these activities along with the fighting for the political demands. This attitude seems to have spread from country to country...... and is why I have posted the Scientific Alliance Newsletter again this week - BECAUSE It seems to me that we are in a situation when so many of our long-embraced formulations for assessing a revolutionary situation and What Is To Be Done need rethinking. Neither Trotsky or Stalin experienced anything akin to this. Forget 'em. For a period, we have to think in terms of "the people" - embracing all but the stooges of the old regimes. The task now is just simply - end the old regimes and open free discussion. We have to learn a new language for meaningful and helpful discussion .... Paddy http://apling.freeservers.com ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu Set your options at: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
