Talk:Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors
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I believe it is a Euro-centric point of view that it was Ismail's "personal extravagance" led to the country's financial problems. According to the Library of Congress Country Study by Helen Metz: "the anti-Ismail view was held mainly by British administartors... who depicted him as squeezing the peasants for money by oppressive taxation and the whip, and 'ruining Egypt' by his lavish spending and despotic ways. Journalists and the American consuls in Egypt such as Edwin de Leon held a more balanced view, arguing that Isamail inherited an unfavorable Suez Canal agreement and a significant public an d private debt from his uncle, Said. They noted that although Ismail spent lavishly, mcuh of the money he borrowed from European bankers was used for building or repairning the country's infrastructure. They also pointed out that European bankers and fanaciers lonaed money to Egypt at usurious interest rate" (pg 35-36). Could the article be changed to show Metz's perspective? --Schwael 17:04, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Anglo-centric
I've just read this quickly, while linking to it, but the whole article seems unbelievably Anglo-centric (not even British - but English). Maybe from Britannica or the like, and could do with a thorough overhaul! (Not volunteering, alas - so much Wiki to do...) JackyR 11:47, 27 February 2006 (UTC)
- Yes, this article is almost all from the 1911 Britannica and is pretty bad. - SimonP 15:06, 27 February 2006 (UTC)
