November 27, 2011

Dispensing with the Turkish model

İhsan Yılmaz

CAIRO - After learning that I was in Egypt not only for research but also for academic collaboration, the manager in the famous Al Burg restaurant told me that Egypt and Turkey also need to collaborate, but it should be on the basis of equality not Turkey's imposition of its model on Egypt.

That seems to be a sentiment shared by many Egyptians. Almost all of them are curious about the Turkish experience, but they are quick to underline that the Egyptian case is different. The people I have spoken to -- ranging from the old elite to Hizb al-Wasat members, from independent intellectuals to Ikhwan activists -- gave me the impression that they were not happy with an imposition of a model on their country that they suspected has some Western backing too.