Three questions: Egypt's 'Zero-sum' politics

With the country and its revolution in turmoil, how can Egyptians transcend the nation's divisions?

By Marwan Bishara

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The military has no particular interest in democracy. It falls upon secular and civic political forces - not the military - to help define a democratic and pluralistic Egypt. This requires unifying around one leadership and one programme as to how to direct the transitional period and implement the agreed-upon roadmap. At the end of the day, it is they who must define the limits of the military's role in a new constitution, a step that will be resisted strongly by the generals.

To fulfill their goals and those of the revolution, they need to guarantee that the transitional period towards a restoration of the civic order is as short as possible, and must not be enticed by ministerial portfolios or any other gestures from the military to prolong it. Likewise, they need to steer away from the forces of the old regime and refrain from entering into any alliances with them.

For decades, Egypt had one living president and one president only, never even a former president - only dead ones. Today, Egypt has a deposed president, an ousted president and a temporary president. And soon it will have another elected president.

However, the ongoing political upheaval has transcended Morsi and the presidency as a whole. It's now an open struggle over the soul, identity and unity of the country."