Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Science is a Gateway for Democracy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Science and Engineering Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Arab Spring of 2011 has highlighted an unprecedent fact in the region: it was the young and educated population who established the spearheading of change, and led their countries to democracy. In this paper, we try to analyze how science has been a key factor in these moves, in Tunisia as well as in Egypt, and how it can help to anchor democracy in these countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The Tunisian revolution started in December 17 2011, in the southwestern city of Sidi Bouzid, with the public suicide of the 27 years old Mohamed Bouazizi. Bouazizi set fire to himself in protest against the unemployment, and the administration mistreatments he was suffering, just like 30 % of the young people in that region, including those holding university degrees. Accordingly, 'Jobs, freedom, national dignity' has without any doubt been the most popular slogan raised during the movement that led former President Ben Ali’s to flee to Saudi Arabia in January 14, 2011.

  2. Besides the liberty to profess any political or religious beliefs, without risking jail or torture for that, besides the liberty of association, one of the most important claims was that of the prevalence of the nation (or people) will in the country ruling. Both in Tunisia and Egypt, a significant number of political claims were formulated along the mode: “The people wants …”, followed by the demand description.

  3. Mahatma Gandhi: “Work gives man his dignity”.

  4. Global resarch report: Africa, Thomson Reuters, April 2010.

References

  • Huntington, S. (2011). The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibn Khaldun, A. (1967). The Muqaddimah (2nd ed.). Bollingen: Bollingen Foundation ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaoua, M. (2002). Sharing scientific development as an alternative to the brain drain. Sciences and Engineering Ethics, 8, 13–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, O. (1992). L’e´chec de l’islam politique, revue Esprit, August, 1992, 106–130.

  • Todd, E., & Courbage, Y. (2011). A convergence of civilizations. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges with thanks the valuable remarks and comments of both reviewers and the editor, which allowed him to significantly improve the paper. He is also deeply grateful to Imen Latiri-Dardour, Hend Khalil and Jeff Stroud for their careful re-reading and improving his original English manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Française d’Egypte, PO Box 21, Shorouq City, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Jaoua

  2. Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France

    Mohamed Jaoua

Authors
  1. Mohamed Jaoua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Jaoua.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jaoua, M. Science is a Gateway for Democracy. Sci Eng Ethics 20, 313–316 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9455-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9455-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation