In this seminar, Dr. Stéphane Lacroix (Associate Professor, Sciences Po; Senior Researcher at CERI) examined the evolution and internal contestations within the Salafi movement in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. The talk analyzed how different strands of Salafism vied for religious legitimacy during the country’s turbulent political transition—especially between the Salafi Call (and its political party Al-Nour), the “revolutionary Salafis” associated with Hazim Abu Isma’il, and even how the Muslim Brotherhood appropriated Salafi religious references despite its distinct origins. 

One of the central questions addressed was: How did Salafi discourse become so hegemonic in Egypt’s post-revolution religious public sphere? Lacroix traced factors such as institutional opportunities, public expectations of religious authenticity, and the openings created in the wake of Mubarak’s fall. The discussion also reflected on how these dynamics contributed to the eventual shortcomings of the transition—especially with respect to inclusion, political opportunity, and the backlash that came with military takeover in 2013. 

The seminar further explored contrasts between secular-leaning youth protest movements and religious actors, noting how the former’s aspirations sometimes clashed with or were overshadowed by religious legitimacy claims. The speaker offered reflections on how the Salafi movement’s divisions—ideological, political, and strategic—shaped not only its public role but its influence (and limitations) in post-revolutionary Egypt. Holier Than Thou: The Struggle for Salafism in Egypt’s Post-Revolutionary Period

Seminar by Dr. Stéphane Lacroix — IIR (Institute of International Relations Prague), part of the “Advances in International Studies” series, 13 April 2023 

In this seminar, Dr. Stéphane Lacroix (Associate Professor, Sciences Po; Senior Researcher at CERI) examined the evolution and internal contestations within the Salafi movement in Egypt following the 2011 revolution. The talk analyzed how different strands of Salafism vied for religious legitimacy during the country’s turbulent political transition—especially between the Salafi Call (and its political party Al-Nour), the “revolutionary Salafis” associated with Hazim Abu Isma’il, and even how the Muslim Brotherhood appropriated Salafi religious references despite its distinct origins. 

One of the central questions addressed was: How did Salafi discourse become so hegemonic in Egypt’s post-revolution religious public sphere? Lacroix traced factors such as institutional opportunities, public expectations of religious authenticity, and the openings created in the wake of Mubarak’s fall. The discussion also reflected on how these dynamics contributed to the eventual shortcomings of the transition—especially with respect to inclusion, political opportunity, and the backlash that came with military takeover in 2013. 

The seminar further explored contrasts between secular-leaning youth protest movements and religious actors, noting how the former’s aspirations sometimes clashed with or were overshadowed by religious legitimacy claims. The speaker offered reflections on how the Salafi movement’s divisions—ideological, political, and strategic—shaped not only its public role but its influence (and limitations) in post-revolutionary Egypt. 

https://www.iir.cz/en/holier-than-thou-the-struggle-for-salafism-in-egypt-s-post-revolutionary-period-1?utm_source=chatgpt.com