Political Culture and the Nature of Political Participation in Egypt

摘要

This thesis analyzes Egyptian political culture and the directive effect which it has upon political development, elite recruitment and the nature of political participation. The pervasive nature of Islam and the centrality of kinship remain the basic factors in determining the nature of political participation in Egypt's non-institutional and personalist politics. The basic of Sadat's control, like that of his predecessor, rests with his continued support of the regime's conditional guardian, the military, and his ability to manage an intricate network of political clients. Despite the forces of modernization, political influence in Egypt rests with the traditional leadership of the rural elite and their urban family linkages. As such, a major threat to the regime's internal stability would not likely arise without the support of traditional rural elites, whose interests are strongly represented in the military. The masses are likely to resort to extra-legal activities only when fundamental values are threatened. (Author)