The Copts of Egypt: The Challenges of Modernisation and IdentityThe Copts of Egypt, who consist of 10-15 per cent of the population, have traditionally been viewed as a 'beleaguered and persecuted minority'. Using newly discovered Coptic archival sources Vivian Ibrahim presents a fresh and vivid alternative reading of the community during the twentieth century. Avoiding the established portrayal of a monolithic entity headed by the Coptic Pope, Ibrahim examines the multifaceted dimensions of the Coptic community, assessing Coptic-State relations on one hand and Coptic intra-communal dimensions on the other. Examining the impact of the British Occupation of Egypt on the making of new national identities, she explores the emergence of a new politically active Coptic class; highlighting popular Coptic grassroots mobilisation during the 1919 revolution through the case-study of the Coptic priest Qommus Sergius. She discusses the centrality of the Copt and Wafdist, Makram Ebeid, on constitutional politics, and his role as a whistleblower during the 'Black Book Affair'. Breaking with the portrayal of a defenceless community, Ibrahim also reveals a strong Coptic response to the emergence and threats of Political Islam through the press. |
Other editions - View all
The Copts of Egypt: The Challenges of Modernisation and Identity Vivian Ibrahim Limited preview - 2010 |
The Copts of Egypt: The Challenges of Modernisation and Identity Vivian Ibrahim Limited preview - 2010 |
The Copts of Egypt: The Challenges of Modernisation and Identity Vivian Ibrahim No preview available - 2010 |