Abstract
This paper examines the features of political repression against contentious activities in Egypt during the 1990s and 2000s. Previous research on Egyptian politics has focused on the surging of contentious activities in the 2000s. Such growth fostered new activist groups, cultivating the context in which the January 25 Revolution took place. However, this kind of research does not analyze political repression based on a theoretical framework and the use of archived materials. Consequently, we still do not have sufficient understanding of the Egyptian government’s inability to curtail protest movements’ activation. This paper contemplates this flaw.
Based on the findings of previous research on political repression, and through annual reports published by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), this paper analyzes (1) political arrests; and (2) responses to contentious activities between 1993 and 2009. These inquiries revealed two findings. First, political arrests are mainly conducted against Islamist groups, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. Conversely, more secular-minded groups suffered less from political repression, which helped them play leading role in contentious activities in the 2000s. Second, characteristics of political repression have changed little over time, and the effects of any changes are not necessarily clear. This paper concludes that the political repression in Egypt during the 1990s and 2000s was ineffective to control contentious activities.
