Analyst’s prophet-able Egypt research
IT would be fair to say Melbourne-based, Cairo-born security analyst Lydia Khalil is a political prophet.
IT would be fair to say Melbourne-based, Cairo-born security analyst Lydia Khalil is a political prophet.
Close to two years ago, she began researching young people in the Middle East and their use of technology. In the past few weeks, two governments have fallen with others likely to follow, largely as a result of youth disquiet and the internet.
“I had an inkling that something like this would happen,” she said, adding “even in my wildest imagination, I didn’t think that such a youth-focused movement would have toppled so many governments in the Middle East so fast.”
Khalil was guest speaker last Wednesday at the launch of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School’s 2011 year.
In front of a full house at Bialik College, she shared her thoughts and projections on the current state of the Arab world as it grapples with people-powered revolutions.
“If I could just impart one thing on you, it is how extraordinary these events really are,” the former political adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq said.
Khalil, who is a native Arabic speaker, spent time in Egypt in December and early January, and said she got a real sense political dissatisfaction was rising.
She explained that the confluence of youth – the average Egyptian’s age is 22, meaning they have not known life without Mubarak – and technology – including satellite TV, mobile phones and websites where information can be spread very quickly – led the changes.
The launch event was to share the news that Florence Melton Adult Mini School has relaunched after cutting ties with long-time partner, the Jewish Museum of Australia, and linking up with the Australian Friends of the Hebrew University.
The school’s founder in Melbourne, Sandy Benjamin, said there has already been a strong take-up of programs for 2011.
Enquiries about Melton: meltonmelb@gmail.com; 0412 277 736.
AJN STAFF
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