Abdul Rahman Al-Jabarti recorded his written testimony condemning the political violence adopted by Muhammad Ali Pasha in establishing the modern state in Egypt. This violence became a hidden nature and an innate instinct in forming the modern state that did not hesitate to resort to various forms of violence, both hidden and apparent, whenever necessary to renegotiate the social contract between it and the Egyptian people.
Over the past two centuries, the forms of the social contract have changed from one era to another, but its essence remained the same: dictated by the authority and acquiesced by the people. This social contract, founded on violence, as described by Professor Imam Muhammad Abdo, referred to people as slaves of the ruler. This slavery through dictate from the ruler and acquiescence from the people was established with Muhammad Ali Pasha’s regime and continued until Egypt went bankrupt, its economy faltered, and it fell under the mercy of creditors.
The Khedive Ismail allowed people spaces for venting and expression to strengthen them against European powers intervening in his governance under the pretext of protecting creditors’ rights. Ismail, for his personal benefit, incited the Parliament against the government imposed by Europe.
The Parliament experienced a similar structure to the modern 2013-2023 Republic’s Parliament, where members could only speak as dictated by the ruler. The system in Ismail’s Parliament mirrored the system in the modern Republic’s Parliaments. Delegates were influenced by the rulers to approve the ruler’s desires after formal deliberations.
After the financial bankruptcy in 1876, Ismail incited MPs in opposition, leading to a government change in 1878 and transforming the Parliament into a highly oppositional body in 1879.
Ultimately, Ismail resorted to inciting various groups against the government, leading to a strong public opinion and influential media. The July 1881 Arabi Revolution marked the resurgence of political courage among the Egyptians.
Muhammad Ali Pasha’s reign led to the erosion of political courage and the growth of a dictatorship that suppressed the people, ultimately resulting in financial ruin and societal decay.
The history reflects how Muhammad Ali Pasha dismantled Egypt’s social fabric through violence, leading to the loss of inherent courage within the Egyptian society. His regime extinguished the noble qualities in the people, establishing a unified autocratic rule.
