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The three phases of Egypt’s popular protests

The trends of Egypt’s crowd politics since Tahrir Square can also be seen in Ukraine, Syria and Libya.
Supporters of Egypt's army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hold a poster of him in Tahrir square in Cairo, on the third anniversary of Egypt's uprising, January 25, 2014. The death toll from clashes during protests in Egypt on Saturday climbed to 29, state television quoted a health ministry official as saying. The fighting erupted on the third anniversary of the popular uprising which toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Security forces fought opponents of the army-backed government which replaced Islamist P

Behind every uprising are chronic frustrations from citizens betrayed by corrupt leaders, their repression, poor governance and a loss of hope in any political process that fulfills their aspiration for democracy, freedom and prosperity. Such events are always associated with frustration and cumulative anger that ultimately explode in the streets. The nature of street protests and their long-term impacts can vary depending on various dynamics in each country, and there are some alarming trends that were associated with the Arab uprisings that have resurfaced again with popular movements in other parts of the world.

First, romanticism:

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