Variety of groups and protests in repressive contexts: the 2011 Egyptian uprisings and their aftermath

This article examines the role of various social groups in shaping protests in repressive contexts. Our empirical study focuses on the Egyptian uprisings started in January 2011. We use data collected through semi-structured interviews undertaken between 2011 and 2015 with 58 individuals who had participated to such protests and who were members of various types of pre-existing organizations. Results show that individuals’ membership in various types of organizational forms, from established organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, to more informal groups such as Popular Committees, from self-organized workers’ groups to independent trade unions have all been crucial for protest engagement. Findings also highlight that organizational forms operating under repressive measures react promptly to any changing context by renovating their forms from loosely structured groups into established organizations and vice-versa.