Communist Party of Egypt Resumes Public Existence March 17, 2011
Posted by Garibaldy in Communism, Middle East.trackback
I came across this article by the Egyptian Marxist economist Samir Amin the other day, in which he suggests that Egyptian communists – or the radical left from the communist tradition as he puts it – have played an important role in the revolution there. And then the following press release from the CP of Egypt popped into my inbox just now. A welcome sign of how the agitations and revolutions for democracy in the Arab world offer renewed hope for the growth of progressive politics.
The Egyptian Communist Party held a comprehensive meeting that included all its different entities and subcategories. The meeting resulted in a unanimous decision to officially announce the party’s existence and activities, considering the new and healthy political and social environment that has resulted from the January 25 revolution, and after years of being forced to work in utter secrecy and under much repression.
The party has agreed to continue the communist journey that began in the 1920s, despite the fact that the communist concept has been reproached and widely misused by corrupt anti-proletariat regimes over the past decades.
The Egyptian Communist Party was re-inaugurated in 1975 and is legitimated by the masses – and this is authentic legitimacy. This goes back to its long struggle and strong connection with the working class in Egypt, as well as the social and political aspirations of hardworking Egyptians. It is these same people who – today – aspire for a society built on freedom, justice and honor, alongside freedom from dependency, tyranny and oppression.
Even though the Egyptian Communist Party was forced to work in complete secrecy for many years, its partaking in democratic and frontal achievements since 1975 are simply undeniable. Members and calibers of the party come from all walks of life and have made positive and powerful contributions to the events of our revolution. For more than 9 decades, Egyptian communists have made unprecedented and strong contributions in many fields of culture and community, including literature, politics and unionism. The communist ideology has survived campaign after campaign of aggression by regimes backed up by right-wing extremists across the Arab world supported by imperialist forces, only by working in utter secrecy, with much persistence and through the ample support of the masses.
The Egyptian Communist Party confirmed that it will be holding its 4th genral conference in the near future to determine the ideal plan of action and organizational chart that will guarantee the demands and aims of our revolution during the coming period.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
Good News. Not because I particularly love the Egyptian CP, but I approve as a sign (albeit tentative) of increased political pluralism.
In geo-political terms, the Communist Parties in the Middle East are not a major concern of the Western Powers any more it has to be said, and probably look a bit quaint compared to the actual threat posed by radical islamists.
I wonder if anyone can recommend a study of ME communist parties? it would make very interesting reading.
The Lebanese Communist Party could resonate to some here. They did take part in the Civil War on the side of the leftists/muslims/palis, although I think they later regretted it, thinking they had taken part in a sectarian rather than ideological war.
Having said they also played a part in figting the illegal Israeli occupation of South Lebanon
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The irony is that radical Islam was formerly Western promoted against secular socialism, yet all these ‘revolutions’ seem to have been secular politics dominated.
Of who I know in the middle east, they tell me the influence radical Islam is over played in the west. No doubt to support and legitimize the imperialist ‘war on terror’, of whom at least some of those states experiencing revolt were somewhat complicit in?
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All very true Babeuf.
IT should be said the idea that the only tangible opposition to various shades of secular dictatorship was islamicist dictatorship was quite widely believed – perhaps until recent events in Egypt.
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India’s Economic and Political Weekly had a very good piece on the social base of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Surprise, surprise, it’s a base in the big bourgeoisie, and it overlaps quite a lot with the Egyptian army.
The social base of Tahrir square, otoh, was the urban workers, and the very small entrepreneurs – that mind sound petit bourgeois, but apparently these people finance their small enterprises via forms of microcredit that amount to debt peonage.
The Tahrir Sq. movement was sparked by the case of one of these people who was beaten to death by the police when he refused to pay them a bribe.
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Good news.
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Ramzi
Yes it is true that the Lebanese CP played a part in these events and have survived, so has the Morabitoun despite all the attempts of Syrian backed Baathists to liquidate them. The impression I have is that the Left in the whole region are weak having been repressed for decades by most of the regimes in the area. Little has been heard of Trades Unions in the ongoing turmoil in the region with the exception of Bahrein. It would be intresting to hear the views of comrades on CLR about the current events particularly todays news on intervention in Libya.
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Well in both Egypt and Tunisia general strikes played an important role in bringing things to a head. Unions have been playing a part in the opposition movement in Iran as well with their being many spontaneous strikes etc recently.
I thought it was quite telling how much emphasis the media put on twitter etc when it was people on the streets that actually brought down the regime. Cant help but feel its a tactic to avoid other less palatable factors like inequaity soaring food prices etc
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