Has Morsi borrowed Mubarak's playbook?

The new Egyptian president's media strategy may be echoing that of his predecessor, but Egypt's media is fighting back.

Tahrir Square has once again been awash with protestors and this time it is all about the actions of the man Egypt voted in as president just five months ago. Mohamed Morsi's move to grant himself sweeping powers were seen as tactics pulled straight out of former President Hosni Mubarak's playbook. His media strategy echoes Mubarak's as well - state TV has been commandeered to broadcast Morsi’s message. 

However, there are some big differences - the head of Egyptian state TV has resigned in protest and private media in Egypt have been unafraid to attack Morsi. Then there is the coverage on the outlet that was seen as one of the channels of the revolution - the Egyptian arm of the Al Jazeera network - Al Jazeera Mubasher Masr. Once celebrated by the crowds at Tahrir, it has come under fire from Morsi's opposition for their coverage of the president and the protests.


Civil society can only exist if it has had  a foundation upon which to grow.  Given Egypt's more recent history civil society hasn't been given the means by which it might grow. Instead it has bee constrained by successive authoritarian governments which have sought absolute power rather than building  a political structure which can sustain its self without the need of an absolute ruler.