Civil society in Egypt – an agent of social and political change?
The question of whether a civil society exists in the Arab world is fre-
quently discussed today, and it is a most sensitive issue. Some claim that it
was already part and parcel of the early Islamic societies, but after thirteen
centuries of despotic governments in the region this is more or less a matter
of historic interest.
The concept of a civil society is closely linked to that of democracy, which
is today considered by most people – though not by all – as a prerequisite
of sustainable development and as the only way of attaining a lasting peace
domestically as well as worldwide. While some radical Islamists, including
in Egypt, consider democracy and pluralism as Western constructs that are
not compatible with their political philosophy, other more moderate Islamists
accept the concepts and integrate their activities into their framework.