Egypt. between state and Islam

Abstract

Despite a succession of repressive secular regimes, Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood were able to become powerful and influential. These groups became the main forces of opposition against aformentioned regimes. This dissertation looks at historical, political and socio-economic factors in determining the reasons for this success. It is shown that the conservative Egyptian society has been a fertile soil for fundamentalist Islam. In addition, social problems such overpopulation, unemployment, corruption and clientalism have consistently burdened the poorest classes. The government's failures to build upon the welfare projects have led to failing legitimacy in the eyes of many Egyptians. Upon these frustrations and desperations are the Islamist charity networks built.