Egypt’s Improbable Path Traces Four Points: Mohamed A. El-Erian

Developments in Egypt have taken many, and possibly everyone by surprise both inside and outside the country. As such, governments and institutions around the world now find themselves playing catch-up, having to react to a particularly dynamic and unusual set of events.

For a week now, Egypt has witnessed a series of protests that are unprecedented in scope and scale. Citizens from all walks of life have marched in the street demanding change. In the process, a populace often characterized as passive and docile is driving domestic and global agendas, running well ahead of political leaders as it attempts to impose its collective will on outcomes.