Surrounded by a peaceful breeze, I sat on warm sand watching the marvellous scene of sun rise. I looked at the pure sky while sun rays were ascending in a wonderful glory reflecting a fulgent shadow on the crystalline waves of the red sea. The birth of a new day always fills one with hope and passion, while the ebb and flow of tides motivate endless metaphors. A vigorous wave followed by a tranquil one just resembles the movement of Egyptians in revolutionary protests in January followed by their flow to arbitrative polling stations in December.
Stimulated by natural beauty, I started reading in my Social Policy subject guide. Reading on ideological perspectives on an Egyptian soil has a special taste; reflecting my studies on the current situation in Egypt is particularly challenging. As shown by the first parliamentary elections after the revolution, the overarching ideology in Egypt is an Islamic one, which is not archetypal of any of the ideologies I’m currently studying. However, what is tremendous about the University of London courses is that they provide one with the analytical tools applicable to any setting.
For Islamist parties in Egypt, winning a majority after being banned of engaging in political activities for over half a century is an accomplishment. Nevertheless, history suggests that real achievements are to be judged based on sustainability. As an electoral, I can tell that our votes in the first free elections were driven by trust and it is clear that Islamists have proven successful in trust-building on the national level. However, voting in subsequent elections would naturally be based on actual performance which is the real challenge facing all political parties in Egypt, especially the ones that Egyptians have put their trust into.
As the early morning urges one to look for what the day has to bring, the first year of the Egyptian revolution urges one to look for what the future has to bring. An appreciation of the historical and cultural background of the country makes one anticipate distinctive outcomes of the Egyptian endeavour.
Posted by C.S Young 
