The Egyptian Diaspora and El-Sisi’s Use of “Soft Power”

Author
Michael Barak has published an article in "The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune" on the Egyptian Diaspora and El-Sisi’s Use of “Soft Power”.
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"Since the rise of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to power, the Egyptian government has invested in strengthening its ties with the Egyptian diaspora around the world, as an important pillar of Egypt’s “soft power” strategy. It thus has high potential to contribute significantly to Egypt’s regional and international status. The Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs (MIEE), led by Nabila Makram, is a leading player in promoting educational programs and other activities for the Egyptian diaspora.

The Egyptian diaspora, however, is far from monolithic and indeed deeply divided in its attitude toward the present Egyptian government. Alongside el-Sisi’s supporters in the diaspora are those who question the legitimacy of his rule, focusing on the issue of human rights and highlighting Egypt’s social and economic ills. In particular, there are diaspora supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood who decry its brutal suppression (specifically, the massacre at the Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in August 2013), and Christian Copts who were driven into exile by confessional tensions."