The Rise of Social Movements in Egypt since the 1990s

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the rise of social movements in Egypt from the 1990s onwards, leading to the overthrow of Mubarak in 2011 and their continuing struggle in twenty-first century Egypt. The nature and impact of contemporary imperialism, socio-economic factors and the ‘closure’ of politics had transformed the relationship between state and society and provided the backdrop for social and political unrest. In the 1990s the mainstream Islamic movement in Egypt drew on its history to adopt a reformist approach and oriented itself towards civil society. In doing so it accepted a neo-liberal model of political change and economic development. As in previous decades the strategy of the Muslim Brotherhood was, where possible, to work with those in power. This did not mean that the movement subsequently avoided severe political repression. The reality of neo-liberal economic reform and the social and economic crises it produced also placed enormous strain on the leadership of the organisation, as did the outbreak of the ‘War on Terror’ and the worsening situation in Palestine.