Abstract

This study aims to examine the ‘racialized self-production’ of the Egyptian state through the lens of its practices of exclusion against the Sudanese, Ethiopian, and Syrian refugee communities. The study provides an understanding of the Egyptian state’s practices of racialization and its production of a hierarchy of ‘whiteness’. This study argues that the Egyptian racialized self-production and hierarchy of ‘whiteness’ shape the extent and types of practices of exclusion exhibited against the aforementioned refugee communities. This thesis looks at how practices of statehood in Egypt are entrenched in racial hierarchies and ‘structures of whiteness’ and relatedly, the extent to which various practices of exclusion against the Sudanese, Ethiopian and Syrian refugee communities as adopted by the state, reproduce and reveal this racialized self-understanding. Looking broadly at the domains of education, labor market, social integration, legal frameworks of inclusion and media representation, the thesis further argues that race is an important structure and analytical lens through which to explain the practices of exclusion conducted by the Egyptian state against its various refugee communities. From here, the study holds that the racialized proximity of a refugee community to the Egypt’s produced self-identity, shapes the type and intensity of the practices of exclusion experienced by that collective.

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

5-26-2020

Submission Date

May 2020

First Advisor

Molavi, Shourideh C.

Committee Member 1

Delatolla, Andrew

Committee Member 2

Badawi, Nesrine

Extent

113 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

Not necessary for this item

Comments

I would like to express my sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Shourideh C. Molavi for her consistent guidance, support, and constructive feedback throughout this process. I would also like to thank my Committee Members Dr. Andrew Delatolla and Dr. Nesrine Badawi for their assistance and valuable suggestions and feedback. My appreciation also extends to Ms. Salma Serry and the Ryoichi Sasakawa Endowed Young Leaders Fellows. I also wish to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to my family, siblings, friends, and colleagues for their continuous encouragement and understanding.

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