Political Economy and Social Movements: 2011 Egyptian Revolution

Mark Labib

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This research investigates the socioeconomic and political drivers of the 2011 Egyptian uprising, challenging the narrative that the revolution was a purely spontaneous political event. By applying a multifaceted framework categorized into the "Four Pillars" of Economic Conditions, Political Structures, Social Mobilization, and International Influence the study examines how a decade of neoliberal "shallow" growth and systemic exclusion created a revolutionary tinderbox. The methodology employs a triangulation approach, synthesizing macroeconomic indicators with original qualitative data derived from a "state-insider" semi-structured interview with an active-duty military officer and the visual analysis of revolutionary artifacts (banners and slogans). The findings reveal that the uprising was primarily catalyzed by an "inflationary squeeze" and a crisis of "waithood", where a disenfranchised youth bulge was structurally excluded from the formal economy. The research demonstrates that the movement’s success was contingent upon a sophisticated "repertoire of contention" that bridged digital coordination with the physical weight of the industrial labor movement. Furthermore, the analysis of primary testimony and Tahrir Square banners confirms that the demand for "Bread" was a concrete requirement for wage reform and the dismantling of the "Businessmen’s Government." Ultimately, this thesis concludes that the 2011 revolution represented a reclamation of material dignity, proving that social mobilization in the MENA region is inextricably linked to the failure of the state’s social contract and the extractive nature of its political economy.

Keywords

Egyptian Revolution, Arab Spring, Political Economy, Social Movements, Economic Motivations, Resource Mobilization

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 3. 2026

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 21. 5. 2026
• Supervisor: Daniel Rosenhaft Swain, Ph.D. MA
• Reader: Václav Bubeníček, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Bachelor programme:
Business Administration