Egyptian Revolutions Book Review Series: Egypt on the verge of the unknown

This book by Mostafa El-Husseini was published days before the 25 January revolution began and offers an insight into the regime's collapse

Masr Ala Hafat Al Maghool (Egypt on the verge of the unknown), by Mostafa El-Husseini, Cairo: Dar Merit, 2010.
Days before the 25 January revolution began, the book “Egypt on the verge of the unknown” was published, and included a prediction on the inevitability of revolution and the importance of seeking change.
The book has a black cover without any graphics, signifying the author's pessimism of the condition of Egyptian society throughout the Mubarak era. The political analysis used is in simple language, using a variety of resources and attempts to create a complete hypothesis on the future of Egypt.
Al-Husseini belongs to the Ross Alyoussef's golden generation, from the end of the 1950s and early 1960s, and specialises in Arab affairs, in particular the Palestinian issue.
He has worked as a journalist in many countries, touring cities throughout the world including Moscow, Washington, and Beirut, where he lived and co-founded the Al-Safeer newspaper.
His previously published titles include “An Arab's dilemma, a Jew's dilemma,” including the translation and commentary on Isac Deutcher's articles, and “Moscow's Daily Diaries” published in the early 1990s.
In the introduction, the writer points out that his book tracks the spread of devastation and the collapse of the state, stopping at what he called “the devastated land”.
This started with the economic liberalisation policies in 1974 and changed the ideals of social success, pushing society to mass- consumption instead of production. It is also maintains that Sadat had attempted to please various groups and social powers that had been harmed because of Nasser's policies.
Tracking the “lost cause” related to the national question of today, Al-Husseini describes what is required for Egypt to overcome its problems and be able to get on the track of change.
Early on he predicts "the fall of President Mubarak's son, Gamal” because of the US's stand against inheriting the presidency. He also saw that the military forces would reject this method oftransferringpower in Egypt.
The author writes about “the empty authority” which had lingered before the 25 January revolution.
Under the title “Age of noise”, Al-Husseini believes that Egypt had lived an internal life - the “age of noise”, whereby any incident becomes the centre for noise, somewhere between talking and screaming, citing the example of the ruckus that surrounded the announcements of “swine flu” cases.
Al-Husseini offers a different explanation for the proposal by the famous television host, Emad Adeeb entitled “a secure peaceful passage for the president and his family” and sees it as a means to get Mubarak out without facing trial.
In this context, the author found that this “age of noise” was powerful, especially when joined by renowned journalist Mohamed Hasanin Heikal, who had a proposal for the transfer of power after Mubarak.
This scheme was to create a “committee of trustees” to oversee the country and arrange for the creation of a new constitution that ensured the peaceful transfer of power. The committee included around forty names, among which were some “celebrities” – now in jail facing allegations of corruption.
Al-Husseini pointed out that despite all this noise, it never occurred to Mubarak to issue a statement that neither he nor his sons would run for the presidency, although this could have prevented him from having to step down and definitely “changed the course of history”.
The book also refers to Sadat's policies in forcing dependency on the external world and strangling the economy, while claiming its liberalisation, which were continued during the presidency of Mubarak.
However, Mubarak made two major changes. First, he increased the level of corruption and the suppression of people to protect it; and secondly, he encouraged dependency on Washington and Tel Aviv, counting on the people's submission.
Mubarak's equanimity was shaken in 2004 when the “Kefaya” (Enough) movement was founded, but he stubbornly ignored it, and did not see that the "wall of fear" has been torn down.
The implications of such changes started appearing when a number of protests and demonstrations were held, mostly about labour demands.
Al-Husseini stresses the corruption that existed, even in Mubarak's opposition groups, but he also refuses to allow the future of Egypt to be damaged, as planned by the regime from the beginning – or maybe an inevitable conclusion?
The author affirms that there are windows opening to new roads of change in the form of authority, suggesting the creation of a new constitutional regime that includes the rights of citizens and the means of securing them.
He also identifies the importance of eliminating the legacy of dependency on the government for securing the people's daily needs.