MERIP Media Resource List, March 1, 2005

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS on the following topics:
- Egyptian presidential election reform
 
JOEL BEININ
Joel Beinin teaches Middle East history at Stanford University and is on the editorial committee of Middle East Report .He is currently residing in Cairo. His research and writing focuses on the history of the modern Middle East, especially Egypt, Israel, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict. His most recent book is Workers and Peasants in the Modern Middle East (Cambridge University Press 2001). Commenting on Mubarak's proposal for a multi-party presidential election instead of the usual single-party referendum, he said today: "The sense of political and economic crisis in Egypt has been widespread. As a result everyone is pleased that there has been some movement in Egypt's stagnant political life. However, most people are not convinced that the proposed constitutional change will be more than cosmetic. They believe that one way or another, Husni Mubarak will remain in charge, and perhaps even succeed in passing the presidency to his son Gamal. Only a few intellectuals offer a more sophisticated view that even if this was a response to US pressure (or popular pressure) even cosmetic and limited changes may eventually take on a life of their own. There is no doubt that the terms of political discourse have changed significantly since December."
 
VICKIE LANGOHR
Vickie Langohr is an associate professor of political science at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and is on the editorial committee of Middle East Report . She has published articles on Islamist political parties in the Arab world, Arab non-governmental organizations and human rights groups, and prospects for Arab democratization. Her particular area of expertise is Egyptian politics. She commented today: "President Mubarak's directive that the presidential elections this fall allow voters a choice among several presidential candidates is a response to US pressure. While there has been unprecedented pressure from the Egyptian opposition to allow competitive presidential elections, the government had previously either ignored or imprisoned participants in this movement. As to whether this proposal is really a step toward democracy, the devil is in the details. The two big questions are: who chooses who can run for president, and once candidates are chosen, will they be allowed to reach potential voters? In a country with 42 percent illiteracy, candidates need access to TV and radio to communicate their message. These media are state-controlled and have never given significant access to opposition candidates for parliament. Similarly, with 58 percent of Egyptians living in rural areas, candidates will need to be able to campaign and organize freely outside of Egypt's big cities."
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