We Egyptians are still marching forward toward democracy

Contrary to the global perception that Egypt is sinking into chaos, presidential election debates reflect hope for a new Egypt. Open debate between secular and Islamist groups was unthinkable over the past 60 years. This openness means the Egyptian body politic is maturing.

By Ahmed Zewail / May 21, 2012

Egyptian presidential candidate Khaled Ali speaks at a news conference in Cairo May 21. Voting for Egypt's presidential election begins May 23. Op-ed contributor and Egyptian Nobel Prize winner Ahmed Zewail says 'a counter-revolution is not in store for Egypt' and though 'the challenges facing the country...are still monumental,' Egyptians are 'paving a new, but rocky, path toward democracy.'

Ammar Awad/Reuters

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A few days ago, I watched a debate between Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Aboul-fotoh, two of the leading candidates among the 13 running for president of Egypt. This stunning debate went on for more than four hours and was watched by millions of Egyptians and Arabs. Contrary to the perception around the world that Egypt is inexorably sinking into chaos and intolerance, this debate in many ways reflects the hope for a new Egypt following last year?s January 25 revolution.

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From the time of Ramses II, the strong pharaoh who ruled Egypt thousands of years ago, until last year, when Hosni Mubarak?s reign ended, Egyptians were never able to witness a debate over who should take over the democratic reins in the highest office of the land. This in itself, together with the election of the parliament last December ? in which 60 percent of eligible voters participated ? are milestones in the history of the nation, paving a new, but rocky, path toward democracy.

The challenges facing the country, of course, are still monumental. Among the most serious problems are economic hardship, the uncertainty of the political climate, and the deterioration of security ? a feature that Egyptian society faces anew.

These problems have been compounded over the past 15 months as each of the three main constituencies involved in the revolution ? the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which is in charge of the transition period; the politically liberal as well as Islamic-oriented parties; and the youth who triggered the uprising ? has stumbled in one way or another.?Even some of the people most thirsty to transform Mr. Mubarak?s stagnant nation from a democracy-deficient to a democracy-rich society have, in despair, yearned for the old stability.

True, there are chaotic symptoms ? such as the conflicts among the different political parties and the occasional clashes between the SCAF, the parliament, and the government. But this is a form of the ?creative chaos,? in the words of former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that is a consequence of revolutionary changes that ultimately will lead to a stable democracy.

This year?s French presidential election in which Fran?ois Hollande defeated Nicolas Sarkozy is a lesson for us in the peaceful, civilized transfer of power. But looking back, we know the French Revolution some two centuries ago, though a liberation movement not unlike ours, was accompanied by widespread bloodshed and ugly political conflicts for many years.

It is a hopeful sign indeed that we Egyptians are still marching forward toward democracy with relatively little bloodshed. All signs indicate that a counter-revolution is not in store for Egypt. We will not turn back to a totalitarian governing system.

Perhaps most encouraging of all is the confidence of Egyptians in their future. The governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Farouk Al-Okda, recently informed me that the hard-currency revenues coming from expatriates to the central bank are the highest ever. Even the many strikes for betterment of education, improvement of health care, and increase in salaries can be read as acts of high expectations for the future.

A rise in violence between some Muslims and Christians is cause for concern. But its origin and intensity are exaggerated in the media.

Egypt?s Christian history is in the fabric of the society.

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