Nadine Sika – författare

Civil Society Activism in the Middle East analyzes the impact of repression on civil society activism in the Middle East through analyzing the cases of Egypt and Jordan.Sika argues that authoritarian regimes' repressive strategies toward civil society actors vary depending on recent historical experience with regime breakdown and/or continuity. Authoritarian regimes that go through breakdown and that transition from one autocratic rule to another increase repression against all civil society actors in an effort to pre-empt large-scale mobilization. This instils fear into civil society actors, who as a result either disengage from civic and political activism or turn to different forms of participation, such as social entrepreneurship. On the other hand, long-standing authoritarian regimes that have not faced breakdown utilize targeted repression and co-optation strategies while tolerating civic and political activism, as well as some forms of contentious activities. Civil society actors in these regimes are able to grasp political opportunities to mobilize for demonstrations at certain times and in certain spaces, and to develop coalition partnerships to push the regime to advance some reforms and change.

Many authoritarian regimes, including some of the world's most populous autocracies, such as China and Egypt, often do not make it clear what views, attitudes, and behaviors people may express openly without being sanctioned. This Element investigates how the uncertainty that this style of rule instills among people impacts the effectiveness of repression in deterring dissent. The authors develop a novel argument about how it can magnify the effect of repression by affecting how people understand what repression signals about a regime's resolve to sanction dissent. Their analysis, based on two laboratory experiments conducted in Egypt, confirms their argument and, in the process, challenges aspects of prominent behavioral arguments linking negative emotions to uncertainty. The authors' results imply that repression is least effective against acts of dissent regimes are opposed to the most and are very clear about their resolve to repress them as a result.

Many authoritarian regimes, including some of the world's most populous autocracies, such as China and Egypt, often do not make it clear what views, attitudes, and behaviors people may express openly without being sanctioned. This Element investigates how the uncertainty that this style of rule instills among people impacts the effectiveness of repression in deterring dissent. The authors develop a novel argument about how it can magnify the effect of repression by affecting how people understand what repression signals about a regime's resolve to sanction dissent. Their analysis, based on two laboratory experiments conducted in Egypt, confirms their argument and, in the process, challenges aspects of prominent behavioral arguments linking negative emotions to uncertainty. The authors' results imply that repression is least effective against acts of dissent regimes are opposed to the most and are very clear about their resolve to repress them as a result.

This book examines the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, and how it impacts young people’s civic and political participation today.The edited volume analyses the extent to which young people influence public policies, social, cultural and economic structures, and how on the other hand these young people are influenced by the same structures. It focuses on the politics and agency of youth, and how they impact social change and continuity in the Middle East and North Africa.The book will be of great value to students, scholars and researchers interested in Youth Movements, MENA, Comparative Politics and Political Economy.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal, Mediterranean Politics.

This book examines the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, and how it impacts young people’s civic and political participation today.The edited volume analyses the extent to which young people influence public policies, social, cultural and economic structures, and how on the other hand these young people are influenced by the same structures. It focuses on the politics and agency of youth, and how they impact social change and continuity in the Middle East and North Africa.The book will be of great value to students, scholars and researchers interested in Youth Movements, MENA, Comparative Politics and Political Economy.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal, Mediterranean Politics.

During the Arab uprisings of late 2010 and early 2011, nine regimes throughout North Africa and the Middle East were confronted by major demonstrations and contentious events. When the uprisings began in Egypt, it became evident that youth movements were going to play a large part in the uprisings themselves, as well as the ensuing political and social changes. In this book, Nadine Sika demonstrates how youth movements initiated contestation, and how the regime in Egypt reacted through a display of authoritarian resilience, creating opportunities, threats to and constraints on the ability of youth movements to mobilize and to network. On the other hand, she explores how youth movement's repertoires can cause a regime to adapt, upgrade, or downgrade its authoritarian tools in an attempt to control, co-opt, or disempower the movement, highlighting how a regime's perception of a threat can propel it towards either defensive or offensive strategies.

During the Arab uprisings of late 2010 and early 2011, nine regimes throughout North Africa and the Middle East were confronted by major demonstrations and contentious events. When the uprisings began in Egypt, it became evident that youth movements were going to play a large part in the uprisings themselves, as well as the ensuing political and social changes. In this book, Nadine Sika demonstrates how youth movements initiated contestation, and how the regime in Egypt reacted through a display of authoritarian resilience, creating opportunities, threats to and constraints on the ability of youth movements to mobilize and to network. On the other hand, she explores how youth movement's repertoires can cause a regime to adapt, upgrade, or downgrade its authoritarian tools in an attempt to control, co-opt, or disempower the movement, highlighting how a regime's perception of a threat can propel it towards either defensive or offensive strategies.

An eye-opening look at youth in contemporary Egypt, from the role they play in advancing political change to their everyday strugglesIn Youth in Egypt, Nadine Sika explores the political world of young people in Egypt, focusing on their experiences under authoritarianism. From the reigns of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat to that of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, she offers an on-the-ground perspective through the eyes of multiple generations of young people who lived through consecutive periods of political upheaval and state militarization.Drawing on surveys, interviews, and focus groups, Sika shines a light on youth who have participated in protest movements, civil society organizations, and political parties. She shows us the different opportunities for economic and political participation that exist for them, explaining why young Egyptians may choose to either mobilize against or—surprisingly—in support of the regime. Sika underscores how youth in Egypt have been regarded as both the "hope of the nation" and a "threat to the nation." Youth in Egypt shines a light on the rising generation of young people that represents Egypt's future and also has significant implications for the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

An eye-opening look at youth in contemporary Egypt, from the role they play in advancing political change to their everyday strugglesIn Youth in Egypt, Nadine Sika explores the political world of young people in Egypt, focusing on their experiences under authoritarianism. From the reigns of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat to that of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, she offers an on-the-ground perspective through the eyes of multiple generations of young people who lived through consecutive periods of political upheaval and state militarization.Drawing on surveys, interviews, and focus groups, Sika shines a light on youth who have participated in protest movements, civil society organizations, and political parties. She shows us the different opportunities for economic and political participation that exist for them, explaining why young Egyptians may choose to either mobilize against or—surprisingly—in support of the regime. Sika underscores how youth in Egypt have been regarded as both the "hope of the nation" and a "threat to the nation." Youth in Egypt shines a light on the rising generation of young people that represents Egypt's future and also has significant implications for the broader Middle East and North Africa region.