Are Egyptians disqualified for democracy? A question of 'representation' from a post-colonial outlook on the outset of Mubarak and Morsi

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The 'Arab Spring', as it came to be called in the West, that transpired in 2011 has astonishingly transformed the mindset of the Western world in that no one in the US or the EU, let alone the Gulf region could have predicted that the Arab peoples, perceived previously as 'so singularly resistant to democratization' would take to the streets resolutely demanding the overthrow of deeply rooted autocracies (Dincer & Kutlay, 2013; 419; Parchami, 2012; 35). This paper argues that post-colonial approach presents a viable interpretation for the outset of two presidents (Mubarak and Morsi) in 3 years (2011-2013) to challenge an imposed reality/representation which depicts Egyptians unqualified for democracy. In a division of three sections, relevance of post-colonial approach to the two revolutions is assessed. The first section discusses the colonial heritage of this representation, Mubarak's and Morsi's keenness to maintain this representation due to its role in the international system. The second section inspects the unconventional means of resistance adopted during this phase e.g. mockery and comedy to produce independent self-representation. Third section presents the counter-argument of post-colonial approach which claims inherent 'structural' gaps between North-South states in the international system which voids the argument of self-representation.

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