'Identity and a Modern State'. The political evolution of the Salafi movement in Egypt through a social movement theory perspective

Table of Contents

Introduction

Review of Literature

Conceptual Framework

Outline of Study

Chapter One

The Influential Quietists

From theory to practice

Chapter Two

From Quietism to Activism

From Theory to Practice

Chapter Three

The Call at crossroads

From Theory to Practice

Concluding Remarks

Research Objectives and Key Topics

This dissertation examines the political evolution of the Salafi movement in Egypt, specifically focusing on the Al-Nour party, through the analytical lens of social movement theory. It investigates the underlying drivers for the movement's transition from political quietism under the Mubarak regime to active political participation following the 2011 revolution and the subsequent political shifts in the post-Morsi era.

• The influence of political opportunity structures on Salafi mobilization.
• The transition of the Salafi Call from grassroots religious activities to formal political engagement.
• The relationship and competition between the Salafi movement and the Muslim Brotherhood.
• The internal ideological debates within the Salafi movement regarding pragmatism and political participation.
• The impact of state repression and regime change on Salafi political strategies.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Chapter One: This chapter analyzes the Salafi movement under the Mubarak regime, characterizing it as a period of political quietism driven by a closed political system and state repression.

Chapter Two: This chapter explores the Salafi movement during the 2011 revolution and the Morsi regime, detailing the group's shift toward politicization and the formation of the Al-Nour party.

Chapter Three: This chapter examines the Salafi movement post-June 30th 2013, focusing on the pragmatic adaptation of the Al-Nour party to the new authoritarian environment and the resulting internal divisions.

Keywords

Salafi movement, Egypt, Al-Nour party, political opportunity theory, social movement, political quietism, activism, Mubarak regime, 2011 revolution, Morsi regime, political integration, Islamist, Sharia, state repression, political openness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this research?

The research explores the political evolution of the Egyptian Salafi movement and their integration into the political sphere through the framework of social movement theory.

What are the primary thematic fields covered?

The primary themes include political opportunity structures, the transition from religious quietism to political participation, intra-Islamist competition, and the influence of regime changes on group strategy.

What is the primary research goal?

The goal is to explain why and how Egyptian Salafis transitioned from avoiding politics to becoming active participants in the political system, and to evaluate their future prospects.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The study utilizes political opportunity theory to analyze the activities of the Salafi movement, complemented by a discourse analysis of primary sources like the Ana-Salafi website and relevant news media.

What topics are discussed in the main body?

The body covers three distinct time frames: the Mubarak regime (quietism), the post-2011 revolution and Morsi era (politicization), and the post-2013 coup period (pragmatic adaptation).

Which keywords best characterize this work?

Salafism, Egypt, political opportunity theory, Al-Nour party, political integration, and social movement.

How did the 2011 revolution impact Salafi strategy?

The revolution created a political opening that compelled the Salafi movement to form the Al-Nour party to compete for political space against other Islamist actors like the Muslim Brotherhood.

How does the Al-Nour party justify its cooperation with the post-2013 regime?

The party argues that pragmatically adapting to the new authoritarian regime is a necessary "lesser of two evils" to preserve the group's political structure and survival.

What role does the Muslim Brotherhood play in this analysis?

The Muslim Brotherhood serves as the primary competitor and occasionally an ideological ally that influences the Salafis' strategic decisions and political positioning.