Conflicted Community: Dalia Ziada – Liberal Activism in Egypt, from the Arab Spring to October 7th

5 snips

Feb 19, 2025

Join Dalia Ziada, an award-winning Egyptian writer and political analyst, as she shares her compelling journey of liberal activism against the backdrop of Egypt's turbulent political landscape. Dalia discusses her efforts in advocating for women's rights and addressing antisemitism. She reflects on the Arab Spring, the impact of community engagement, and the importance of shifting perspectives in the Middle East. With insights into the complexities of identity and political Islam, her story highlights both personal transformation and the pursuit of democratic ideals.

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ANECDOTE

Early Indoctrination

Dalia Ziada's childhood education in Egypt instilled a strong anti-Israel sentiment.
This was reinforced by the media and even religious institutions, creating a generation prone to conflict.

INSIGHT

Hidden Peace Treaty

The 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel wasn't celebrated or taught as a peace treaty.
It was presented as a security agreement, minimizing its significance in the media and public perception.

ANECDOTE

Impact of the Second Intifada

Dalia Ziada's negative view of Israel solidified during the Second Intifada.
Al Jazeera's on-the-ground reporting, though impactful, presented a narrative that further fueled anti-Israel sentiment.

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This week for our Conflicted Community members, we have an interview with the Egyptian political activist Dalia Ziada, whose incredible personal story crosses so many of the major events in the modern middle east, from the Arab Spring, to October 7th.

Dalia is an award-winning Egyptian writer and political analyst whose work focuses on governance, geopolitics, and defense policy. In Egypt, she co-founded the Liberal Democracy Institute in 2015, she is the Executive Director of the Center for Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean Studies and also serves as a board member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Egypt's National Council for Women. She’s a frequent media commentator, advocating for women’s rights and against female genital mutilation in the Muslim World, and she is the author of multiple books, including “The Curious Case of the Three-Legged Wolf - Egypt: Military, Islamism, and Liberal Democracy”, on the Arab Spring and its fallout in Egypt.

In a wide ranging conversation, Thomas and Dalia discuss her story of liberal activism in Egypt, teaching herself out of antisemitism, the Arab Spring, October 7th, and more…

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