RELIGIOUS REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVISM: THE ROLE OF COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN POST-MUBARAK EGYPT

This paper examines the complex role of Coptic Christians in Egypt's revolutionary politics following the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Employing a qualitative methodology that integrates historical analysis, secondary sources (including scholarly works, reports, and media accounts from 2011–2013), and social movement theory, this study explores how religious minorities navigate revolutionary upheaval and democratic transitions in Muslim-majority societies. It analyzes Coptic political participation, identity formation, and community responses to rapid political change, investigating how Coptic Christians have balanced their aspirations for democratic participation with concerns about religious security and communal survival. The research reveals the tensions between revolutionary idealism and minority pragmatism, demonstrating how religious identity can both motivate and constrain political activism. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of religious minority politics in times of democratic transition and offer insights into the challenges of inclusive democratization in religiously diverse societies.