<Special Feature: Revisiting Islam and Politics in Egypt’s “New Republic”>National Security Spoils Pro-Government Nationalism: Changing Discourses and Representations of the Mawlid Bride Doll in Post-Revolutionary Egypt

Abstract

Nationalism has continued to influence Egyptian lives to the present day. On the other hand, current Egyptian nationalism has a significant disconnect with the nationalism of the past in that the state relies heavily on attempts to unify the nation through national security. In order to understand current Egyptian nationalism, this paper analyzes the citizens' nationalism in discourses and representations of the mawlid bride dolls ('arūsa al-mawlid) in terms of “the less elaborated narrative.” This way of narrating, essential to both state and 'arūsa discourses and expressions, mainly comprises ambiguous and positive meanings that avoid political conflict and argument among people. Since the late 2010s, the reinforcement of security has promoted this narrative throughout society and led citizens to increase the use of 'arūsa as a representative of this narrative. As a result, the spread of 'arūsa continues. This phenomenon can be interpreted as citizens' attempt to avoid state interventions by creating “pro-governmental” practices based on “the less elaborated narrative.” However, this spread not only led to criticism by “Salafis” and “extremists” of 'arūsa but also to a “Salafi” vs. state debate on the distinct and political form. Although “the less elaborated narrative” was the foundation of the spread of 'arūsa as a “pro-government” movement, the “Salafi” vs. state debate might spoil this foundation.