By Bassma Abou El Fadl 2014

364 Pages·2014·23.99 MB·English

IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca
Lucca, Italy

A Performative Space: Socio-Spatial Practices in Tahrir
Square during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011

PhD Program in Management and Development of Cultural Heritage
XXVI Cycle

By
Bassma Abou El Fadl
2014
The dissertation of Bassma Reda Abou El Fadl is approved.

Programme Coordinator\ Advisor:
Assoc. Prof. Dr Maria Luisa Catoni, IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Italy

Supervisor\ Co-advisor:
Dr Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom

The dissertation of Bassma Reda Abou El Fadl has been reviewed by:
Assoc. Prof. Dr Giacomo Pirazzoli, University of Florence
Dr Gehan Selim, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom

IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca 2014

To my Dad's soul,
Who sacrificed so much so that I could achieve my goals,
who taught me how to smile always,
and whose infinite energy I will carry all my life,
as his proud daughter.
Contents

List of Photos vii

List of Diagrams x

List of Maps xi

Acknowledgements xii

Vita xiv
Publications and Presentations xv
Abstract xvi
1. Introduction 1
1.1. Problem Identification…………………………………………………………………………… 1
1.2. Research Purpose and Objectives………………………………………………………………. 3
1.2.1. Research Questions………………………………………………………………….. 3
1.3. The Context of the Study………………………………………………………………………… 4
1.4. Spatial Actions in the Arab Public Spaces during Arab Spring…………………………….. 8
1.4.1. Tunisia: Mohammad Bouazizi Square, Tunis………………..………………….... 9
1.4.2. Egypt: Tahrir Square in Cairo………………………………………………………. 10
1.4.3. Bahrain: Pearl Roundabout, Manama……………………………………………... 11
1.4.4. Yemen: Change Square, Sana'a…………………………………………………….. 12
1.5. Disposition of the Chapters…………………………………………………………………….. 13
1.6. Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………..…. 16
1.7. Scope and Limitation……………………………………………………………………………. 19

2. Democracy and Democracy Deficit: In Theory and in Practice 28
2.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 28
2.2. Definition of Democracy………………………………………………………………………... 28
2.3. Democracy Deficit and its Consequences……………………………………………………... 30
2.3.1. Definition of Democracy Deficit………………………………………………..….. 30
2.3.2. Democracy and the Democratic Deficit in Egypt and Arab Countries………… 31
2.4. Democratic Performance and its Stages of Practice………………………………………….. 34
2.4.1. Definition for Democratic Practice……………………………………………….... 34
2.5. Democratic Public Space………………………………………..……………….……………… 36
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2.5.1. Tahrir Square as a Democratic Public Space……………………………………… 37
2.6. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………… 38

3. Politics of Space and Spatial Practices as Acts of Resistance 40
3.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..………… 40
3.2. The Everyday Practices………………………………………………………………….………. 41
3.3. The Right to the City and the Politics of Space……………………………………………….. 42
3.3.1. The Politics of Occupation: Tactics and Acts of Resistance……………………... 44
3.3.2. The Production of Space…………………………………………………………….. 46
3.3.3. Contesting Social Relations…………………………………………………………. 49
3.3.4. Contesting Hegemony………………………………………………………………. 50
3.4. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………... 50

4. Factors Affecting Spatial Practices in Public Spaces during Old Uprisings 52
4.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………...……………………. 52
4.2. The Tiananmen Square Case and the 1989 Movement……………………………………..... 52
4.2.1. Historical background of Tiananmen Square………………………….…………. 53
4.2.2. The Contemporary Transformation of Tiananmen Square………………...…… 54
4.2.3. Factors Affecting Spatial practices in Tiananmen Square……………………….. 58
4.3. The Azadi Square: a Space of National Symbol and Civil Revolution……………………... 61
4.3.1. Historical background of Azadi Square……………………………………...…… 61
4.3.2. The Timeline of the 1979 Revolution and its Pre-revolution Protests………….. 61
4.3.3. Factors Affecting Spatial Practices in Azadi Square……………………...……… 64
4.4. Wenceslas Square as a Theatre of Revolution………………………………………………… 66
4.4.1. Historical background of Wenceslas Square……………………………………… 66
4.4.2. Contemporary transformation during the Velvet Revolution……………..…… 67
4.4.3. Factors Affecting Spatial Practices in Wenceslas Square……………………..…. 72
4.5. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………… 74

5. Research Methodology 84
5.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………... 84
5.2. The Case Study Research Method………………………….………………………………… 84
5.3. Research Methods…………………………………………………………………………….… 86
5.3.1. Collection of Historical Background Data of Space……………………………… 86
5.3.2. Contemporary Reports and Records………………………………………………. 86
5.3.3. Unstructured Interviews…………………………………………………………….. 87
5.3.4. Documented Narratives…………………………………………………………….. 89
5.3.5. Direct Observation and Field Notes……………………………………………….. 89
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5.4. Analysis of the Evidence………………………………………………………………………. 90
5.5. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………. 91

6. The Production and Re-production of Tahrir Square 96
6.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….. 96
6.2. Urban and social condition in Cairo in Pre-Revolution…………………….…………….... 97
6.2.1. Deterioration of Urban Spaces through Series of Ideologies……………………. 97
6.2.2. Consequences of the Decline in Public space Production……………………….. 99
6.3. Urban History of Tahrir Square through Political Shifts…………………………............... 101
6.4. Tahrir Square as Site of Several Important Protests……………………………………..…. 106
6.5. Recent Acts of Resistance and How Did it Started to Come out Physically……………... 107
6.6. A shift: Reactive Revolutionaries and Alternative Tactics towards Public Space………. 108
6.6.1. Streams of Contemporary Public Protests in Egypt by Youth Opposition……. 108
6.6.2. Cyber Space as an Alternative Public Sphere for Promoting the Cause……….. 110
6.6.3. New Tactics for Obtaining Unusual Spatial Order in the City………………….. 112
6.7. Re-conceptualization process through diverse Resistance Shifts…………………………. 115
6.7.1. The challenge: Acts of Resistance as Part of Tahrir Square’s Spatial Pattern….. 115
6.7.2. The Test: January 25 Demonstrations as an Initial Spatial Trial…………...…… 116
6.8. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………........ 117

7. Revolting Arts or Spatial Democracy: Performance of Popular Arts during the Egyptian
Revolution 128
7.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..……… 128
7.1.1. Art and the Authority……………………………………………………………….. 128
7.1.2. Art Intervention and Public Space…………………………………………………. 129
7.2. Art Performances as Spatial Practices………………………………………………….......... 130
7.2.1. Textual Arts from the Political to the Sacred in Tahrir Square…………………. 130
7.2.2. Circles and Performative Stages: Means of Democratic Performance…………. 132
7.2.3. Art Corner as an Organized Spatial Pattern……………………………………… 134
7.2.4. Revolutionary Museums as an Act for Spatial Commemoration………………. 134
7.3. Analysis of Performances of Arts……………………………………..................................... 135
7.3.1. Production of Lived Space……………………………………................................. 135
7.3.2. Social Memory and Art Practices in Tahrir Square……………………...………. 137
7.3.3. Internal Dictatorship Imposes Social Control Expression……………………….. 138
7.3.4. Discursive Construction through Symbolic Representations………………....... 138
7.3.5. Mulid Pattern as a Symbolic Capital……………………………………................ 139
7.4. Conclusion……………………………………............................................................................ 141
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8. Media Coverage and Display: Tahrir Square as a Stage for Spectacular Performances 156
8.1. Introduction……………………………………..............……………………………………… 156
8.1.1. Mainstream Media Condition and Blogosphere in Egypt………………………. 157
8.2. Media Coverage and Display: Spatial Practices of Tahrir Square………………………… 157
8.2.1. Communication and Dissemination Tactics for Urban Dynamics on Jan25....... 159
8.2.2. January 25 as a Testing Phase for Media Practices………….…………..……….. 159
8.2.3. Defiance Tactics for Internet Shutdown and Mobile Network Blockage……… 160
8.2.4. Media Tent as an Agent for Collecting and Disseminating Multimedia…….… 161
8.2.5. Sustaining Social Media as their Alternative Press……………………………..... 162
8.2.6. The Role of Formal Media in the Sit-in………………………………………….… 162
8.2.7. Internal Media display and News Broadcasting in Sit-in…………………….…. 165
8.3. Analysing Tahrir Square as Stage for Spectacular Performances……………………….... 167
8.3.1. Lived Experiences through Media Coverage and Display inside Sit-in……….. 167
8.3.2. Amplification through Media Practices: From Testing to Spectacular Phase.… 168
8.3.3. Media Coverage and Display Practices Create New Social Patterns…………... 170
8.3.4. The Social Control Imposed on Media and News Display Spatial Practices….. 171
8.4. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….... 173

9. Hospitalization and Emergency Support in the Medical Colony 190
9.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….. 190
9.1.1. Heterotopia: Space of Multi Orderings………………………………………….... 190
9.1.2. Formal Hospitals Role around Tahrir Square Terrain…………………………... 191
9.2. The Growth and Narratives of the Medical Colony……………………………………….. 193
9.2.1. Temporary Medical Treatment Spots……………………………………………... 193
9.2.2. Field Hospital Ibad El Rahman Zawia…………………………………………….. 194
9.2.3. Spatial Diffusion of Medical Colony: Field Clinics under Instant Need……..... 195
9.2.4. Factors Affecting Field Hospital and Clinics in the Aftermath of Camel Battle 197
9.2.5. Non-incidental Field clinics In the Aftermath of Camel Battle…………………. 198
9.2.6. Local Ambulance Service and Alternative Tactics for Delivering Casualties…. 198
9.2.7. Medical Supplies and Tactics for their Delivery………………..………………... 199
9.3. Analysis of Medical Colony Spatial Practices……………………………………………..... 200
9.3.1. The Production of Lived Space: Multi-orderings Space…………………………. 200
9.3.2. Experience inside Medical Colony………………………………………………… 202
9.3.3. The Social Control for Maintaining Spatial Boundary…………………………... 204
9.3.4. Discursive Construction of Hospitalization and Medical Treatment………….. 206
9.4. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….... 207

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10. Praying as Revolutionary Act 224
10.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….. 224
10.1.1. The Transformative Role by Rituals and Praying Performance………………… 225
10.1.2. Religious Groups in Sit-in…………………………………………………………... 225
10.2. Praying and Ritual Practices: Spatial Practices of Tahrir Square…………………………. 231
10.2.1. Friday Prayer: From a Congregational Prayer to an Opportunity for Mass
Mobilization……………………………………………………………..…………… 231
10.2.2. Prayers as an Implement for Protection and spatial Persistence……………….. 232
10.2.3. Tahrir Square: From the Civic to the Spiritual Secrets…………………………... 233
10.2.4. Christian Mass in Tahrir Sit-in as Source of Spirituality……………………..….. 235
10.2.5. Prayers Practices Accommodating Spatial Improvement………………………. 235
10.2.6. Commemorations and Memorials for Martyrs as Spatial Rituals……………… 236
10.3. Analysis of Praying and Ritual Practices: Spatial Practices of Tahrir Square………….... 237
10.3.1. The Social Control Imposed during Praying Practices………………………….. 237
10.3.2. Praying as Process of Sacred Place Making…………………………………...….. 240
10.3.3. The symbolism of Friday Prayer in Tahrir Square: Mosque for the Masses…... 243
10.4. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….... 245

11. Experiencing Informality in Tahrir Square: Living and Life Needs Spatial Practices 263
11.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………. 263
11.1.1. Home-Place Making………………………………………………………………... 264
11.1.2. Decentralized Horizontality and Partial Organization…………………………. 265
11.1.3. Informality in Cairo as Spatial Phenomena of Daily Life………………………. 266
11.2. Living and life Needs as Spatial Practices……………………………………………..….... 269
11.2.1. The Campsite Spatial Expansion and Informality………………………………. 269
11.2.2. Food and Subsistence Supplies Informality……………………………………... 274
11.2.3. Cleaning and Maintenance Informality………………………………………….. 277
11.2.4. Utilities and Restrooms Informality………………………………………………. 278
11.3. Analysis of Living and Life Needs as Spatial Practices………………………………….... 280
11.3.1. Social Control patterns in the Campsites Terrain……………………………….. 280
11.3.2. Production of Lived Space: Informality as a Spatial Phenomenon……………. 284
11.4. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………... 288

12. Conclusion 308
12.1. The Re-conceptualized Tahrir Square: An Alternative World………………………….... 308
12.2. How to Re-conceptualize the Use of Urban Space as a Space for Urban Politics?........... 311
12.2.1. Potential Impact of the Alternative World……………………………………….. 312
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12.3. Post-revolutionary Policing and Spatial Tactics by the Regime…………………….…….. 316
12.4. Avenues for Further Research………………………………………………………………... 317
12.5. Fields and Areas of Research and Potential Impact……………………….……………...... 318

Bibliography 324
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