To the Point
Democracy, Islam and Egypt's Economy
Share |

Democracy, Islam and Egypt's Economy

Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Podcast iTunes Podcast
Listen to/Watch entire show:
Listen Download Add to My Shows

The Muslim Brotherhood and ultra-conservative Salafists won 60 percent of the vote in Egypt's recent elections. What will that mean for the ruling military, relations with Israel, and for democracy? Are those issues distractions from the economic concerns of the mass of Egyptians? Also, demonstrations over the election in Russia continue, and Occupy Wall Street occupies foreclosed homes.

Banner image: A woman wearing a full Islamic veil walks past Egyptian police and soldiers outside a polling station on the second day of the run-off election in Cairo on December 6, 2011. Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Making News

Demonstrations over Election in Russia Continue ()

For the second night in a row, demonstrators in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities protested recent elections allegedly rigged in favor of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party. Secretary of State Clinton repeated her charge that the voting was neither free nor fair. Fred Weir is based in Moscow for the Christian Science Monitor.

Guests:

Main Topic

Democracy, Islam and Egypt's Economy ()

In Egypt's recent elections, the Muslim Brotherhood won 37 percent of the vote and the ultra-conservative Salafists got 24 percent. More secular parties got just 13 percent.  It may take as much as a year to determine how strong a parliament will be formed. Should Israel and Western countries be concerned? Will the religious factions unite and stand up to the current military rulers when 90 percent of Egyptians support the Army now that Mubarak is gone? With almost half the country living on $2 a day, the main concern of most people is economics, with politics low on the list. We look at the many options available to the most important country so far to have experienced the "Arab Spring."

Guests:
Links:

Reporter's Notebook

Occupying Foreclosed Homes ()

It's hardly a mass movement yet, but the latest version of Occupy Wall Street could have a major impact. In New York, Miami and other cities today, economic protesters from the Occupy movement joined forces with a group called Take Back the Land. Is it squatting or liberation? Matt Sledge reports for the Huffington Post.

Guests:

Engage & Discuss

Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.

For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.