Repression, Co-optation, and Legitimation: Authoritarian Resilience and Youth Movement Fragmentation in Sisi's Egypt

Housam Darwisheh

No 956, IDE Discussion Papers from Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO)

Abstract: This study examines how authoritarian regimes, particularly Egypt under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, consolidate power by fragmenting and weakening social movements, especially those led by youth. Through an extensive literature review, the study highlights the regime’s reliance on repression, co-optation, and legitimation to suppress dissent and neutralize potential opposition. Targeted repression, including mass arrests and criminalizing dissent, is reinforced by selective co-optation. Selective co-optation strategically divides opposition groups and weakens their collective cohesion. The regime further strengthens its authority by promoting narratives of popular legitimacy, portraying its actions as essential for national stability and public interest. The study focuses on mechanisms used to demobilize youth-led movements. These include the state’s use of government-organized initiatives, social media campaigns, and campus surveillance designed to foster loyalty and disrupt activism. By analyzing these dynamics, this study underscores the regime’s ability to leverage institutional and structural tools to fragment dissent while projecting an image of inclusivity. This study contributes to the broader understanding of authoritarian governance and social movements in Egypt and the Arab world. It aims to provide insights into how regimes adapt to youth mobilization and revolutionary protests, highlighting the broader patterns of authoritarian resilience and suppression in the region.

Keywords: repression|co-optation|legitimation|youth; movements|authoritarian; resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 K16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-02
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Published in IDE Discussion Paper = IDE Discussion Paper, No.956. 2025-02

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