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Long Live Egypt Fund: Legitimating austerity through a governmental crowdfunding development organization

Ahmed, Amr Khairy LU (2017) SIMV29 20171
Master of Science in Development Studies
Graduate School
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis is a case study of the Long Live Egypt Fund (LLEF), a Government-
Organized NGO (GONGO) established by the current Egyptian president in 2014 to
crowdfund seven development programs through citizens’ donations. By analyzing
empirical material that LLEF and related actors produced, I address the question of
how the regime uses LLEF in legitimating its ongoing IMF loan-associated austerity
measures. The study presents the first systematic description of LLEF as a GONGO.
Then departing from theoretical arguments on legitimacy and empirical studies of
regime legitimacy in Egypt and the MENA region, I present a model for analyzing
authoritarian regimes’ policy legitimation processes. The analysis explains how
LLEF is used... (More)
This thesis is a case study of the Long Live Egypt Fund (LLEF), a Government-
Organized NGO (GONGO) established by the current Egyptian president in 2014 to
crowdfund seven development programs through citizens’ donations. By analyzing
empirical material that LLEF and related actors produced, I address the question of
how the regime uses LLEF in legitimating its ongoing IMF loan-associated austerity
measures. The study presents the first systematic description of LLEF as a GONGO.
Then departing from theoretical arguments on legitimacy and empirical studies of
regime legitimacy in Egypt and the MENA region, I present a model for analyzing
authoritarian regimes’ policy legitimation processes. The analysis explains how
LLEF is used to legitimate a shift in the regime’s state-directed development model, on ideological grounds. The analysis also finds that framing citizens donations to LLEF as patriotic acts can reshape citizens’ perceptions of nationalism, to include the duty of financially supporting state wellbeing, rather than expecting services from the government. The study finds that this model renders austerity legitimate, as the regime’s contribution to development, alongside donations of citizens. The study addresses authoritarian legitimation and survival through analyzing specific policies, instead of pursuing the holistic approach recent studies on Egypt adopted. (Less)
Popular Abstract
This thesis is a case study of the Long Live Egypt Fund (LLEF), a Government-
Organized NGO (GONGO) established by the current Egyptian president in 2014 to
crowdfund seven development programs through citizens’ donations. By analyzing
empirical material that LLEF and related actors produced, I address the question of
how the regime uses LLEF in legitimating its ongoing IMF loan-associated austerity
measures.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ahmed, Amr Khairy LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV29 20171
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations (GONGOs), authoritarian legitimacy, Long Live Egypt Fund, IMF-associated austerity, state-directed development.
language
English
id
8914950
date added to LUP
2018-02-21 11:04:26
date last changed
2018-02-21 11:04:26
@misc{8914950,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is a case study of the Long Live Egypt Fund (LLEF), a Government-
Organized NGO (GONGO) established by the current Egyptian president in 2014 to
crowdfund seven development programs through citizens’ donations. By analyzing
empirical material that LLEF and related actors produced, I address the question of
how the regime uses LLEF in legitimating its ongoing IMF loan-associated austerity
measures. The study presents the first systematic description of LLEF as a GONGO.
Then departing from theoretical arguments on legitimacy and empirical studies of
regime legitimacy in Egypt and the MENA region, I present a model for analyzing
authoritarian regimes’ policy legitimation processes. The analysis explains how
LLEF is used to legitimate a shift in the regime’s state-directed development model, on ideological grounds. The analysis also finds that framing citizens donations to LLEF as patriotic acts can reshape citizens’ perceptions of nationalism, to include the duty of financially supporting state wellbeing, rather than expecting services from the government. The study finds that this model renders austerity legitimate, as the regime’s contribution to development, alongside donations of citizens. The study addresses authoritarian legitimation and survival through analyzing specific policies, instead of pursuing the holistic approach recent studies on Egypt adopted.}},
  author       = {{Ahmed, Amr Khairy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Long Live Egypt Fund: Legitimating austerity through a governmental crowdfunding development organization}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}