In this talk, Rabab El-Mahdi examines the tumultuous path of Egypt’s revolutionary process through the lens of the Ultras football fan groups. The story of the Ultras represents a microcosm of Egypt’s recent travails and poses questions about mainstream understandings of the country’s political landscape. Through focusing on this movement that is often either demonized or romanticized, El-Mahdi shows the significance of the interplay between class and agency in shaping Egypt’s politics at a time of historic change.

Rabab El-Mahdi is Associate Professor of political science at The American University in Cairo.

John Chalcraft is Professor of Middle East History and Politics in the LSE Department of Government.

The LSE Middle East Centre (@LSEMiddleEast) builds on LSE's long engagement with the Middle East and North Africa and provides a central hub for the wide range of research on the region carried out at LSE.

This seminar forms part of the Social Movements and Popular Mobilisation in the MENA Research Network. Please note that this is a discussion-based seminar. A paper will be circulated to those who register to attend and will be briefly presented at the start of the seminar, after which the floor will be open to questions and comments from the audience.

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