There is the saying that history never repeats. However, I think it is very interesting to note the striking similarities between Egypt in 2011, Europe in 1848 and the role of technology. Economic disparity, abuse of workers’ rights, and a lack of political equality were causes for the wave of revolutions in 1848 Europe, not far from the feelings in modern day Egypt. (Valiente, 2011) But the most incredible similarities lie on the technological front. Just as social media has provided a sense of community across Egypt, and the Arab world, the relatively recent steam-powered printing press in 1848 introduced an era of mass communication, boosting the democratization of knowledge and altering the structure of society. (Wikipedia, 2011) Information and revolutionary ideas transcended borders just as online platforms have done today. Europe was suddenly connected, and now, the Egyptian community is too.
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| Koenig's 1814 Steam-Powered Printing Press (source) |
This form of historical comparison can also be seen in a quote by Daniel Fawcett Tiemann, (the Mayor of New York at the time) taken from a transcript of the Transatlantic Cable on 1st September, 1958, which was the 23rd (and last) day of operation.
“Right-Honorable Sir Walter Car- den, Lord Mayor of London:—I congratulate your Lordship upon the successful laying of the Atlantic Cable, uniting continents Europe and America, cities London and New York, Great Britain and the United States. It is a triumph of science and energy over time and space, uniting more closely the bonds of peace and commercial prosperity,—introducing an era in the world’s history pregnant with results beyond the conception of a finite mind.”
The Mayor of New York is congratulating the Mayor of London on the success of the Atlantic Cable. From this quote alone is can be inferred that the implication of this technology was a vastly modern form of communication that would connect people in the Western world like never before. This effect of globalisation can be directly compared to the social media advances of today. In 1958, the Western World was beginning to unite through technology, and today, the people of Egypt are also becoming connected for the same, but more advanced reasons. The feeling of being united and a part of a wider community is very similar.
So what can we say of the future? In fifty years time what new technology will be paving the way for social reform?
Just as technology changes, so does society.
ReplyDeleteJust as technology gets more complicated, so does society.
It works hand in hand.
Just goes to show the power of technology
ReplyDelete@FatKidOnFire - It’s the power, courage, and the will of the People. The tech is nothing but a collection of tools to help the people. Without the people, the tech is just tech.
ReplyDeleteproud Egyptian here :D
ReplyDeletelived the whole thing online and on the ground lived the revolution since Jan 28th (the Friday Of Anger) and many days afterward in Tahrir Square…..it was hard yet inspirational….and yes…Facebook was a huge contributing factor
@WaleedHussein - Unfortunately, social media actually had very little to do with shaping the events in Egypt outside of communicating information. The succession crisis was well under way before any demonstrations or self-immolation occurred.
ReplyDeleteI know everybody wants social media and the Internet to carry big flags of democratic double rainbows and free speech kittehs, but it simply wasn’t the case here or anywhere else in the Middle East.
@Ryann Grim - Were you actaully there to experience the protests? I was and there is no doubt the the new dawn in Egypt has been powered by everyday people using the influential power of social media. Social media has been growing in use and in influence in the Middle East for many years. What we created was the revolution of a consensus powered by people who have found their personal and national voice via social media.
ReplyDeleteAs you have written Ziad, revolutions have used various media throughout time. Are the tools we use in many ways more powerful? Most definitely. But are they the Alpha and Omega of recent anti-government movements? Not in the slightest.
ReplyDeleteMy theory is that as Westerners, we love to feel like we are making a difference in the world, and we love to overstate our influence. We seem to be yelling to the world: “They used Twitter for their revolution – I use Twitter too!” “I’m so globally minded because I joined a Facebook page about this unrest!!!” “I am helping to depose a corrupt government because I hit the Retweet button!!”
No disrespect to the tremendous usefulness of these tools intended. I think that the companies that build and shape these powerful sites have much that they should feel proud of, but we should all remember that Facebook and Twitter were used for the benefit of Tahrir Square and not the other way around.
@IsaacElias - Sorry, but you couldn’t be any more wrong. The revolution was born online, and it was kept alive online too.
ReplyDelete