Demotix/Khaled Basyouny. All rights reserved.
Egypt’s current regime has used a considerable amount of repression to remain in power. This however is not the full picture, as state violence alone is not sufficient to maintain power; an ideological base has to accompany it. This base is used by the regime not only to consolidate support, but also to maintain internal cohesion among elites.
The regime builds support from its core base and justifies its existence through, for example, the creation of a national security state that is anchored in “fighting terrorism”. This combined with a public backlash against the Muslim Brotherhood has created a personality cult around President Sisi as a national hero.
