Egyptian Revolution - Locke Was Right!

It’s been stated that a revolution requires a complete dramatic chance in ideas or practice through the overthrow of a ruler or political system. Throughout the years, political philisophes have given input in regards to the importance of proper governance over people. John Locke believes that the contract between the people and the government was bilateral, meaning that human nature was characterized by tolerance and reason. In contrast, Thomas Hobbes believes that humans can only live together in peace, without civil conflict through the obedience to a sovereign. The impact of both philisophes theories can be challenged within the current state of tyranny in Egypt. The country is in midst of a revolution, in which the people are revolting against its own government. Through a deeper analysis of The Egyptian Revolution, the link between the current state of civil war will be linked to Locke rather than Hobbes, seeing as I have a more optimistic view on man in a state of nature...

Throughout the past thirty years, President Hosni Muburak has been in charge of the social, economical and political class of Egypt. He has run the country as a fierce dictator, through multiple corruption scandals and essentially a fraudulent government. In recent months, however, the people of Egypt have rebelled against their government with the desire to obtain an authentic democratic government. By doing so, the link between the theory of natural rights, of philosopher john locke and the current revolution are shown.

“If one takes survival as the end, then we may ask what are the means necessary to that end…we have rights to life, liberty, health and property. These are natural rights…that we have in a state of nature before the introduction of civil government, and all people have these rights equally."

-John Locke

According to Locke, liberty is the natural right to every individual in society. In regards to Egypt, the liberty of the people is evidently in the form of a democratic government. If the people want a democratic government it is their natural right to have the chance to obtain it. Muburak’s oppression conflicts with the desire of the people, and blocks them from their natural rights. The civilians in Egypt are not living the lifestyle they desire, resulting in a lower quality of life than that they were born with the right to.

“Men being, as been said, by nature, all free, equal and independent, no one can be put out of this estate and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent”

- John Locke

In regards to Locke’s ideals, the current revolution in Egypt coincides with the ideal that men by nature do not need to listen to their government if it poorly represents them. Muburak’s tyranny does not need to be followed, nor does his dictatorship give him any power over the people. Infact, the theory explained that it’s the people’s decision who governs them, thus giving further reason for a revolution in hopes of a liberal democracy to occur.

The impact of John Locke’s theories can be challenged within the current state of tyranny in Egypt. The country is in midst of a revolution, in which the people are revolting against its own government, which can be reflected through the ideals of the rights of the citizens of the country. Mubarak’s government does not seek to maintain the liberty, health and property of it’s citizens. By not looking out for the greater good of his citizens, Muburak is losing his people's consent to enable his power. Thus, resulting in the expected outcry for change from the people—as expected through a deeper analysis of philisophe John Locke’s theories.