The role of political parties in Egypt (1978-2017) and the resilience of authoritarianism

Abstract

The current thesis focuses on the immense importance of the role of political parties in Egyptian politics and the Resilience of Authoritarianism, tracing their evolution and development from 1978 to 2017. It has proved that Egyptian political parties, in the period of the present work, have failed to consolidate democratic transformation by institutionalizing authoritarianism. This role has been so marginal that these pre- and post-Uprising political parties have been ridiculed as Ahzab Cartooniyah (Cardboard Parties). It has been found that about 100 parties out of 109 are remarkably so feeble and even paralyzed in their opposition to autocratic and dictatorial practices. Therefore, these political parties are incapable of supporting democratization. It has focused on the role of political parties in authoritarian regimes under which they further support authoritarianism. Moreover, it has analyzed the role of political parties in public mobilization as well as the variances in their organizational structures, mobilization and institutional potentials, and popular bases. The thesis has adopted the "semi-structured interviews, as a qualitative interpretive methodology, with the parties' leaders, chief members, and cadres (medium level and grassroots)". It also employs the authoritarian resilience theory for conducting this research and the comparative historical institutional approach while examining the authoritarian resilience theory to account for the failure of Egyptian political parties in democracy promotion.

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

2-1-2019

Submission Date

July 2018

First Advisor

Sika, Nadine

Committee Member 1

Sunday, James

Committee Member 2

Kassem, Maye

Extent

180 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.

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