After the momentous events that climaxed in the deposing of Egypt’s oppressive dictator, our experts look at where the country goes from here

Why did the protesters prevail?

Many of the younger protesters in what has been become known as the 25 January revolution told stories of being stopped in the street by older Egyptians and told how proud they should feel. Clearly those with longer memories were impressed at the speed of Mubarak’s fall from grace. One of the things which facilitated it was the internet. As one administrator of the Facebook page which first called for the protests said: ‘Before our webpage went up people were interested only in football. But afterwards everything changed.’ Then there was simply the steely grit of the protesters, which the army initially acknowledged, and then supported. Anyone who witnessed the 28 January clashes with police will know that, without the bravery of the first wave of activists, the anti-government movement would never have reached Tahrir Square in the first place. Ultimately, Egyptians felt they had had enough. One of the economic aspects of Mubarak’s legacy most mentioned on the streets since 25 January was the yawning gap between rich and poor. Striking busmen in […]