Abstract

This dissertation provides an agency-oriented approach to understand adaptability, continuity, and change in the context of challenging structures and struggles, such as privatization, poverty, unemployment, inequality, and marginalization. The premises of open market and neoliberalism imposed from above by the state affected the development of the state-society relations and marginalization. They resulted in a change in the subjectivities of the people and a neglectful rule by the state. As a result, the responsiblized citizen came into existence, meaning that the individualized citizen became actively responsible for his/her own wellbeing, which renders the neoliberal strategies of rule existing in different realms of our everyday life. The Zabbaleen community give a clear demonstration of the art of presence despite the marginalization, the neglectful rule, and the policies that they suffer from. Their resilience depended on three main variables: adaptation to neoliberal norms, the grassroot community development, and the unequal power relations within the community. Each of them has its own playing factors. Through these variables, the Zabbaleen community showed creativity and collective action to come up with new spaces and opportunities from what is already available to them, protecting themselves, meeting their needs, and struggling for a net result of politics of redress by their individual acts.

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

5-22-2019

Submission Date

May 2019

First Advisor

Sunday, James

Committee Member 1

Sunday, James

Committee Member 2

Elnur, Ibrahim

Extent

125 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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