“As Fawaz Gerges has astutely argued, Egyptian nationalism developed in response to British colonization of Egypt, hence a concept of ‘sameness’ in opposition to the ‘other’ became prevalent. Chapter 1: Genesis, page 31” PropagandaNationalismDictatorshipColonizationOtheringMilitarizationModern EgyptGerges Author:Maged Mandour
“Starting from the premise of the organic unity of the nation, the opposition can be painted as social groups outside the ‘nation’, since, simply put, they threaten the nation’s natural harmony. However, this concept is only plausible if the regime, or, more precisely, the military, is able to portray itself as a representative of the nation and guardian of the state, which it has been very successful in doing. Hence, opposition to the military regime is equated with treason to the nation, and thus should be repressed by any means necessary. The narrative used to solicit popular support involved the propagation of numerous conspiracy theories, including the claim that the events of 2011, the groups that participated in it, and those who support it are part of a systemic effort to destroy the Egyptian state, which was only thwarted by the military’s intervention in 2013.” Chapter “Genesis”, page 33” MilitaryUnityTyrannyOppressionConspiracyEgyptOtheringCoupModern EgyptEl Sisi Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge Source: Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge
“When describing the opposition, remaining true to the regime narrative, Sisi coined a new term: ‘The people of evil’ (BBC, 2016). The term started to gain currency in 2016, when popular opposition to the transfer of the two islands in the Red Sea, Tiran and Sanafir, from Egyptian to Saudi sovereignty became apparent. However, it first made an appearance during Sisi’s speech inaugurating the nee Suez Canal in 2015 (Armbrust, 2019, p. 223). Even though it was never explicitly defined, it became clear that Sisi used it to describe the opposition in general, with specific mention of those who doubted and criticized the regimes ‘achievements’ (RT, 2019). Sisi used a rhetoric that not only framed the opposition as evil but also framed the regime as good, and the conflict between them as an existential struggle between good and evil: a biblical image par excellence. The framing of the opposition as evil and treasonous was not only a rhetorical device but also laid down the foundation of mass repression.” Chapter “Genesis”, Pages 37-38” PropagandaGood And EvilRhetoricEgyptTreasonPolarizationOtheringDehumanizingModern EgyptEl Sisi Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge Source: Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge