Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world
A seminar with Thanassis Cambanis, Fellow, The Century Foundation, New York, on his new book Once Upon a Revolution.
A seminar with Thanassis Cambanis, Fellow, The Century Foundation, New York, on his new book Once Upon a Revolution.
Moderated by Prof. Tarek Masoud, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School.
Four years ago, Egypt captivated the world with a massive, spontaneous and non-violent uprising against a military dictatorship. What motivated the individuals who broke the pattern of history in January 2011, and what has become of them now that the military has reestablished its grip on power even more firmly than before? A close look at the revolution and its initial defeat shows us why another uprising is inevitable, and what it would take to make it turn out differently.
*Mr. Cambanis will host an event afterwards at the Harvard Book Store (1256 Massachusetts Ave.) at 7:00pm, with opportunities for further discussion, book signing and purchase.
About Thanassis Cambanis:
Thanassis Cambanis is a journalist who has been writing about the Middle East for more than a decade. His first book, A Privilege to Die: Inside Hezbollah’s Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel, was published in 2010. He writes “The Internationalist” column for The Boston Globe and is a correspondent for The Atlantic. Thanassis regularly contributes to The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and other publications. He is a fellow at The Century Foundation in New York City. Thanassis lives in Beirut, Lebanon with his wife and two children.
About Once Upon a Revolution:
An award-winning journalist tells the inside story of the 2011 Egyptian revolution by following two courageous and pivotal leaders—and their imperfect decisions that changed the world.
In January 2011, in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a group of strangers sparked a revolution. Basem, an apolitical middle-class architect, jeopardized the lives of his family when he seized the chance to improve his country. Moaz, a contrarian Muslim Brother, defied his own organization to join the opposition.
These revolutionaries had little more than their idealism with which to battle the secret police, the old oligarchs, and a power-hungry military determined to keep control. Basem was determined to change the system from within and became one of the only revolutionaries to win a seat in parliament. Moaz took a different course, convinced that only street pressure from youth movements could dismantle the old order.
Thanassis Cambanis tells the story of the noble dreamers who brought Egypt to the brink of freedom, and the dark powerful forces that—for the time being—stopped them short. But he also tells a universal story of inspirational people willing to transform themselves in order to transform their society…and the world.
