“Mubarak is Gone After 30 Years in Power, But Questions Remain as to How Transitions Will Proceed” headlined Democracy Now’s video broadcast on Monday the 14th with Amy Goodwin covering the celebration of Egyptian citizens and the resignation of Mubarak’s 30 year reign which was announced this past Saturday. Although Mubarak is gone, his cabinet will remain in place along with the implementation of martial law by Egypt’s military over a six month period or until democratic elections can be held and a new government is formed. Egypt’s constitution has been suspended and the military plans to rewrite the country’s constitution within 10 days. The People’s Assembly and the Shura Council have both been dissolved and the military has banned meetings of labor unions to prevent the occurrence of strikes. Inspired by Egypt’s revolution, there has been a trend of other protesting specifically in Bahrain where citizens demanded the release of 450 political activist currently in jail. Violence ensued as 14 protesters were reported as being hurt by tear gas and rubber bullets used by officials. Protests in Yemen with similar interests to remove their 30 year regime from power have occurred as well as in Algeria.




SOURCE: International Dialogues


    Egypt’s recent revolution exemplified just how much power actually resides in the governed as opposed to the formal structures of government and its officials. Lasting only 18 days, citizens in Cairo and other cities mobilized and challenged an institution that had been in place for three decades. Leading by example, the youth and peaceful assemblies of protesters illustrates how effective a united front can be and most importantly the intensity of public opinion, defined as the as the collection of individual opinions about issues or objects of general interest that concern a significant number of people. The significance also lies within the aftermath of activity regarding the eradication of Egypt’s constitution and the erection of a new document. A constitution  is critical in that it is regarded as the supreme law of the land through the denotation of rules and customs by which the government should conduct its affairs. The “sacred” document should essentially write the national ideas of the country, formalize the structures of government, and attempt to justify the government’s right to govern. If written within 10 days, how effective will the Egyptian’s constitution really be in capturing and tailoring itself to the current amends and demands of the people contrasting policies that have been in place for 30 years?

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