The Alexandria Library recently hosted the third discussion session titled "National Identity and Economic and Social Challenges," as part of the conference "National Identity: Rooted and Renewed," under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The session was moderated by Dr. Ahmed Jalal, a specialist in economic development and former World Bank economist. Dr. Jalal highlighted the relationship between economic growth and improved living standards, stressing the need for growth indicators to align with policies that promote income and wealth distribution justice.
Dr. Munir Fakri Abdel Nour, former Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, emphasized the direct link between improving living conditions and enhancing national identity. He noted that a strong internal front is associated with citizens' sense of full partnership in their country and equal opportunities. Abdel Nour discussed some challenges posed by the digital environment to the concept of belonging and stressed the importance of consolidating the concept of citizenship and national belonging. He outlined five areas of work, including promoting social justice and protecting the middle class and low-income groups from erosion of purchasing power.
Dr. Niveen Masoud, a professor of political science at Cairo University, reviewed recent social transformations in the Egyptian personality, citing studies by prominent researchers. She summarized these transformations into seven manifestations, including consumerism and apparent religiosity. Dr. Masoud attributed these changes to shifts in interactions with educational, cultural, and media institutions, as well as the evolution of party and union participation. She called for clear and comprehensive performance indicators for educational institutions and expanding public work and expression spaces for the press and civil society.
Dr. Ayman Abdel Wahab, director of the Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, noted that society is going through a transitional phase that requires in-depth study of areas of dysfunction. He highlighted the overlap of cultural and social elements with modern patterns of interaction, given the changes in the roles of traditional institutions. Abdel Wahab pointed to a gap in concepts between older generations and Gen Alpha and Z, indicating that concepts like freedom and global citizenship vary among young people based on development levels, education, and exposure to the outside world.
Dr. Ahmed Hassan, representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, presented the youth's perspective, emphasizing that identity is linked to future opportunities and meeting basic living requirements, such as work and marriage. He noted that inflationary pressures may affect citizens' perception of direct returns on some development projects and programs. Dr. Hassan called for supporting entrepreneurship to help young people innovate and establish their projects, given the challenges of saving and reliance on consumption for growth.
The session concluded with a discussion on the importance of considering national identity as a comprehensive issue linked to economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Participants emphasized the need to promote the role of educational institutions and societal participation to support values of belonging and citizenship. They also highlighted the importance of opening broader spaces for youth participation in shaping the future.
The conference, held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aimed to explore the roots and renewed vision of national identity. The discussions emphasized the importance of addressing economic and social challenges to strengthen national identity and promote societal partnership. Key points included the need for comprehensive policies to support economic growth, social justice, and educational institutions.
Key points
- The conference highlighted the importance of societal partnership and economic improvement in strengthening national identity.
- Experts emphasized the need for comprehensive policies to support economic growth, social justice, and educational institutions.
- The discussions stressed the importance of promoting the role of educational institutions and societal participation to support values of belonging and citizenship.
