Modern Egypt: From Colonialism to the Challenge of Democracy
October 26, 2013
In two short years, Egypt has undergone dramatic change, accelerating the disintegration of its social fabric. This seminar introduces participants to the long history leading up to the Arab Spring which overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and the challenges the country faces as it attempts to implement a democratic regime. Akram Khater reviews Egypt’s colonial past and the rise of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, focusing on how neo-liberal economics have changed Egypt while charting the growth of Islamism as a political movement. Abdeslam Maghraoui explores how liberalism and democracy can be at odds in Egypt, and highlights the challenges reformers face in establishing an open, democratic system. Ellen McLarney considers how politics, gender, and equality are intertwined in Egypt today, when the new constitution guarantees equality between the sexes while social and political forces resist change. In the panel session, our speakers discuss the present and future of Egypt after the coup of 2013. Anyone interested in contemporary affairs will want to be a part of this Adventures in Ideas seminar.
Topics & Speakers
A Dream Betrayed: Egypt’s Modern History
Akram Khater, Professor of History, North Carolina State University
The Dilemma of Democracy in Egypt
Abdeslam E. Maghraoui, Associate Professor of the Practice, Political Science, Duke University
Women’s Rights and Equality in Revolutionary Egypt
Ellen A. McLarney, Assistant Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke University
Legacies and Challenges
A panel discussion with our speakers
Time and Cost
11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2013. The tuition is $125 ($110 by September 5). Tuition for teachers is $62.50 ($55 by September 5). 10 contact hours for 1 unit of renewal credit. The optional lunch is $15.00.
For information about lodging click here.
Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association.
For information about GAA discounts and other scholarships available to Humanities Program participants, click here.