"Drive around Cairo these days, and you get the message very quickly. The military installed authorities want a massive 'Yes' vote in the forthcoming referendum. Lampposts, billboards and buildings are plastered with posters bearing a large white tick. They are hard to avoid. Spotting any posters from the 'No' campaign is a lot harder. People have been arrested for putting them up. And you will not hear much from opponents of the new constitution on TV and radio - either state-run or private."
Egyptians today live with fear in their mind. A war has been waged regarding Egypt's polical future and it is easy to recognize the blatent opponents. One can drive down the streets of Cairo and see propaganda tactics at its finest. In-your-face posters and billboards are displayed to support the ouster of Mohammed Morsi. But a large percentage of the country is opposed to this verdict. The groups and ethnicities of Egypt are quite different all groups live amongst each other. Although many have been arrested for expressing opposition to the ouster of Morsi, opposing groups in Egypt feel Morsi was a great ruler and wish to restore his rule. The culture and people of Egypt play a large role in the controversies we see today. There are three aspects of the culture that play a part in todays conflicts: the differences in religions, the political beliefs different groups have, and the layout and geography of the populations in Egypt.
Looking at the major groups of Egypt, two groups stand out the most: The Muslim Brotherhood and the Coptic Christians. The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization that includes 28% of Egypt's population. In Egypt's history, the Brotherhood has been banned from politics for its violent tactics. But they've slowly gained popular support by providing social services like hospitals and schools. The group of Islamists have a culture quite different from other groups in Egypt. Although only 28% of the population are associated with the brotherhood, over 90% of Egyptians are Muslims. These people believe in one creator god, follow the Koran, worhsip on fridays, and they believe Jesus did not die but rather ascended into heaven. Coptic Christians, however, are quite different. They only make up 9% of Egypt's population. Their religion is different in that they follow the teachings of the Bible, they believe Jesus faced death by crusifiction, and they worship on Sundays. These differences in religion have caused much conflict in history. There were once 70,000 Jews in Egypt but the different religions caused much dispute and now there are fewer than 70. This shows how differences in religion and culture can cause much tension as it does today.
In addition to the conflicts between groups in Egypt, much internal conflict regarding politics tightens the already stressed bands holding the country from chaos. The Coptic Christians, although one religion, are represented in every political party in Egypt. They are constantly fueding within their group as to what is best for the country. Some supported Egypt's involvement in the Arab Spring but some were actually opposed to the overthrow of Mubarak. Also, now that the military is currently in charge of the government, the different parties the Copts are in are battling to resolve Egypt's uncertain political future. The Muslims in Egypt as well have their internal conflicts. Some Muslims, not associated with the brotherhood, are disappointed with the way the extremists are representing their religion with violence, but the brotherhood is investing much effort in the other Muslims trying to recruit them into the brotherhood. This causes even more stress in the tension in Egypt.
Another cultural aspect of Egypt that adds to the conflict is the geography and layout of the population. The Nile Valley in Egypt is rich with resources and attracts the majority of the population. Over 96% of the population lives in just 4% of the land in Nile Valley. (Hopkins, Nicholas, 2014) All the different races, religions, and groups compacted together into one valley adds greatly to the tension.
So in conclusion, it's easy to see why Egypt finds itself in the conflict it is in today. The diverse culture of the people there along with the way these cultures live amongst each other can only lead to the unorganized government and conflict we see today.
different in that they follow the teachings of the Bible, they believe Jesus faced death by crusifiction, and they worship on Sundays. These differences in religion have caused much conflict in history. There were once 70,000 Jews in Egypt but the different religions caused much dispute and now there are fewer than 70. This shows how differences in religion and culture can cause much tension as it does today.
In addition to the conflicts between groups in Egypt, much internal conflict regarding politics tightens the already stressed bands holding the country from chaos. The Coptic Christians, although one religion, are represented in every political party in Egypt. They are constantly fueding within their group as to what is best for the country. Some supported Egypt's involvement in the Arab Spring but some were actually opposed to the overthrow of Mubarak. Also, now that the military is currently in charge of the government, the different parties the Copts are in are battling to resolve Egypt's uncertain political future. The Muslims in Egypt as well have their internal conflicts. Some Muslims, not associated with the brotherhood, are disappointed with the way the extremists are representing their religion with violence, but the brotherhood is investing much effort in the other Muslims trying to recruit them into the brotherhood. This causes even more stress in the tension in Egypt.
Another cultural aspect of Egypt that adds to the conflict is the geography and layout of the population. The Nile Valley in Egypt is rich with resources and attracts the majority of the population. Over 96% of the population lives in just 4% of the land in Nile Valley. (Hopkins, Nicholas, 2014) All the different races, religions, and groups compacted together into one valley adds greatly to the tension.
So in conclusion, it's easy to see why Egypt finds itself in the conflict it is in today. The diverse culture of the people there along with the way these cultures live amongst each other can only lead to the unorganized government and conflict we see today.
Egypt's Recipe For Strife
By Dean Narlock
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