Donate

Understanding the Egyptian coup

Middle East commentator Karl Sharro talks to a group of young filmmakers about what happened to the Arab Spring.

WORLDbytes

Topics Politics

Want to read spiked ad-free? Become a spiked supporter.

The Arab Spring was widely proclaimed as opening up the possibility of greater freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Yet the civil war in Syria, the military coup in Egypt and the on-going uncertainty in Libya indicate that these hopes have been dashed.

This video, filmed in August, features Middle East commentator Karl Sharro in a question-and-answer session about Egypt with young filmmakers at the WORLDbytes studio in east London. For Sharro, the biggest problem was the lack of political clarity and organisation in the pro-democracy movement. In the discussion, Sharro provides invaluable background on the context in which the Arab Spring unfolded and how Western commentators and campaigners, by celebrating the lack of politics in these movements, exacerbated the problem of political clarity. He also ridicules the idea that democracy is a Western idea and that Arab societies are ‘not ready’ for it.

To find out more about WORLDbytes and to enjoy the channel’s extensive archive, visit the website here.

Karl Sharro blogs at Karl reMarks.

Celebrate 25 years of spiked!

A media ecosystem dominated by a handful of billionaire owners, bad actors spreading disinformation online and the rich and powerful trying to stop us publishing stories. But we have you on our side. help to fund our journalism and those who choose All-access digital enjoy exclusive extras:

  1. Unlimited articles in our app and ad-free reading on all devices
  2. Exclusive newsletter and far fewer asks for support
  3. Full access to the Guardian Feast app

If you can, please support us on a monthly basis and make a big impact in support of open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Please wait...

Comments

Want to join the conversation?

Only spiked supporters and patrons, who donate regularly to us, can comment on our articles.

Join today