Middle East scholar Prof. Fawaz Gerges on the Arab revolt.
Regardless of the outcome of events in Egypt, for Arabs, psychologically and symbolically, this is their Berlin Wall moment. They are on the brink of a democratic wave similar to the one that swept through Eastern Europe more than 20 years ago, hastening the Soviet Union’s collapse. The Arab intifada has put to rest the claim that Islam and Muslims are incompatible with democracy. The democratic virus is mutating and will probably give birth to a new language – and a new era – of politics in the Arab world. Fawaz A. Gerges is a Professor of Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
This event was recorded on 24 February 2011 in Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building. It was chaired by Dr Maha Azzam.
Available as: mp3 (41 MB; approx 87 minutes)
Event Posting: A Perfect Storm in the Arab World?
P U L S E 
But let us hope that this “democratic virus” is not the North American “two party” version and is unburdened by Western values of atomized self, vulgarized womanhood, and complacent collective. Foremost, let us pray that these new political breezes usher in unbreakable resistance to expansionist fascist Israel and its partner in crime zionized, imperial, and divisive America.