Contemporary Egypt in Revolution

On January 25, 2011 protestors in Egypt amassed in Tahrir Square in Cairo with basic demands: Bread, Freedom, Social Equality, and Human Dignity. After hundreds of peaceful protestors were killed at the hands of riot police and hired thugs, eighteen days later, President Husni Mubarak resigned. Yet since then, hundreds more have been killed, Egypt's revolution continues, and the basic demands are as crucial today as they were at its inception. We will read contemporary Egypt from the perspectives of anthropologists and social historians, and discuss the value of social theory and analysis for understanding current political turmoil. Enrollment limited to 19 first year students. S/NC