Demonstrating this

Morsi may certainly be faulted for many mis-steps during his brief rule. Primary among them was his failure to reach out magnanimously to diverse sections of the polity and society. He failed to appreciate that the first democrat’s mandate must be more than the narrow agenda of his party. It had to be nothing less than getting diverse constituencies — especially those who felt vulnerable at the prospect of possible majoritarianism and orthodoxy — and even obstructive interest groups on board for an accelerated agenda of institution-building. However,if the protesters in Egypt’s city squares had a sense that the very lack of institutional checks that allowed Morsi to be deposed so easily exposes them to arbitrary governance,they did not let on.

The episode also casts a bright light on the flawed notion of reform by flash protests. Mobilisation is a valid and valuable mode to put governments on notice on assorted acts of commission and omission. But in recent times,and with a new middle-class demographic driving street action,a notion has gained ground that a convenient protest is not just a pressure tactic,but a legitimate method of dictating legislation and policy to government,as was attempted at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in quest of the Jan Lokpal bill. Tahrir is a sobering reminder that for demonstrations to yield some greater good,there needs to be the mediating power of institutions. Else,protesters can become handy playthings for unaccountable power centres.