Bread As A Political Phenomenon: Bread Riot in Egypt in 2008

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 317 - 347, 02.12.2018

Muhammed Emre Küçükşahin

Abstract

As we know from political history, people have
rebelled against their administrators due to famines. The last ring of
rebellions, also called bread riots or IMF rebellions, took place in 2007-2008. The reasons as the global increase in food prices,
neo-liberal social policies and socio-political conditions of countries have
played a leading role in the emergence of riots in many countries from South
America to Africa. In this conjuncture, the demonstrations that started in
Egypt in April 2008 have turned into an anti-regime protest which has been
attended by disadvantaged groups such as workers, women and youth. The protests
were only suppressed by the harsh intervention of the regime. African
countries, especially Egypt, were not able to manage this crisis well and the
causes of bread riots were among the reasons for the Arab Spring which was seen
in the following period. This context gives us the opportunity to read the
2007-2008 revolts as the pioneer of the Arab Spring, which started in 2010.

Keywords

Bread riots, Egypt, Africa, neoliberalism

Politik Bir Fenomen Olarak Ekmek: 2008 Mısır'ında Ekmek İsyanı

Abstract

Tarihin her döneminde insanlar
kıtlıklara bağlı olarak yöneticilerine ayaklanmıştır. Ekmek isyanları ya da IMF
isyanları olarak da adlandırılan isyanların son halkası 2007-2008 yıllarında
gerçekleşmiştir. Gıda fiyatlarında meydana gelen küresel artış, neoliberal
politikalar ve ülkelerin sosyo-politik durumları gibi nedenler Güney
Amerika'dan Afrika'ya kadar birçok ülkede isyanların ortaya çıkmasında başrol
oynamıştır. Bu konjonktürde 2008 yılının nisan ayında Mısır’da başlayan
gösteriler zaman içerisinde başta işçiler, kadınlar ve gençler gibi toplumun
dezavantajlı kesimlerinin katıldığı rejim karşıtı bir protestoya dönüşmüştür.
Protestolar ancak rejimin sert müdahalesi ile bastırılabilmiştir. Başta Mısır
olmak üzere Afrika ülkeleri karşı karşıya kaldıkları krizi iyi yönetememiş ve
ekmek isyanlarının nedenleri ilerleyen dönemde görülen Arap Baharının da
nedenleri arasında yer almıştır. Bu bağlam bize 2007-2008 isyanlarını 2010
yılında başlayan Arap Baharının öncüsü olarak okuma imkânı sunmaktadır.

Keywords

Ekmek isyanı, Mısır, Afrika, neoliberalizm

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