The Challenge of Political Realism in Egypt Revolution

The Jasmine Revolution was not far behind the scene of the history and yet another revolution has swept another Arab country and it has been so far successfully forcing the 30 years reign of Hosni Mubarak to step down from his post. Unlike Tunisia, Egypt was one of US important ally in this region, particularly to support US interest to prevent the growing fundamentalism in this region that might become a hurdle toward Israel-Palestinian Peace process.

Within realist paradigm, naturally a weaker state seeks protection from a stronger state, in response to a potential threat from an adversary, where a stronger states acts in self-interest, protecting the resources of the weaker state from incursion by the foe.

Realism, however has been long way dictates the foreign policy of the United States in building solid alliance with other country and realist often don’t really care about democracy or human right, what really means of such an alliance for a strong states like United States is the assurance of its national interest -raison de’etat- and power as the most important factor in shaping the international politics, therefore they often seen an extreme trade-off between strategic interests and moral values, but it might become major consideration particularly when it threaten the prestige a country in international politics.

Thus, allies for realist tend to find strong, stable and do not cause major strategic problem, or equal ally, which means they don’t have their internal instability and having considerable support among its population although without being a democratic one, therefore, once an ally became less popular and illegitimate among their masses alliance will be at stake or less valuable.

However, the outbreak of Egypt revolution eventually breaking the myth of Realist concept of alliance, an 18 days strike that last in ousting Mubarak from his presidency, however forcing the United States to support Egyptian demand although initially United States seem reluctant to show any support as compare to the previous anti-Ahmadinejad strike in Iran, where from the initial movement the strike was backed with full support from the United States.

For years, the United States has had it distinctive policy in the middle east; unconditional support for Israel, funding and defending authoritarian regimes while at the other hand encouraging some political dissent and condemning human right abuses by governments it consider crucial partners in unstable regions. Those underlying policies have put United States as less popular in the eyes of Egyptian.

For now, Egypt revolution marked as the transition process toward more legitimate government and hopefully it will spread the wave of change throughout the region, or at least to the remaining authoritative regimes of Middle East to be more representative with the demand of their people.