Tuesday, 22 February 2011

The 83-year-old academic who inspired the Egyptians

Gene Sharp

Gene Sharp’s how-to guide on non-violent revolution helped boot out Mubarak

LAST UPDATED 11:58 AM, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
An 83-year-old American whose writings on non-violent resistance to dictatorships have been used as a 'primer' by pro-democracy protesters in Cairo and other cities in recent days says he has been humbled to see his philosophy come alive on the streets.
The key, Gene Sharp told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House this morning, is to stop being afraid. "Dictators are never as strong as they tell you they are - they have weaknesses. And the people are never as weak as they think they are.
"Gandhi always emphasised you have to lose fear - and the Egyptians and Tunisians have demonstrated that that is possible."
However, he also warns that while overthrowing a dictatorship is possible, replacing it with an acceptable democratic process will take time. Read More


Read more: http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/75346,people,news,the-83-year-old-academic-who-inspired-the-egyptians#ixzz1EiWu5MkH

No comments:

Why cows may be hiding something but AI can spot it

  By Chris Baraniuk Technology of Business reporter Published 22 hours ago Share IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Herd animals like...