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“Egypt vs. Masr” - An Urban Ethnography of a Neoliberal Fairytale and its False Dichotomy

Nienhuis, Renee LU (2025) SIMZ41 20251
Graduate School
Abstract
This thesis investigates the online “Egypt vs. Masr” trend as an entry point to
studying socio-economic disparities and spatial divides in urban Cairo. Drawing on ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and Mike Bailey’s ‘utopia of exclusion’ as criticism of neoliberalism, it aims to make sense of this trend and how it relates to the proliferation of Cairo’s upscale urban developments. As such, this thesis is engaged with social dynamics, discussions around class, urban development, and underlying economic structures, particularly neoliberalism. With an urban ethnographic approach, an investigation into upscale real estate developments, their marketing, and conversations with interlocutors; this thesis argues that within a neoliberal context, economic... (More)
This thesis investigates the online “Egypt vs. Masr” trend as an entry point to
studying socio-economic disparities and spatial divides in urban Cairo. Drawing on ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and Mike Bailey’s ‘utopia of exclusion’ as criticism of neoliberalism, it aims to make sense of this trend and how it relates to the proliferation of Cairo’s upscale urban developments. As such, this thesis is engaged with social dynamics, discussions around class, urban development, and underlying economic structures, particularly neoliberalism. With an urban ethnographic approach, an investigation into upscale real estate developments, their marketing, and conversations with interlocutors; this thesis argues that within a neoliberal context, economic inequality and exclusionary practices in the city are naturalized and legitimized through practices related to symbolic violence, euphemistic language, and ‘enclavization.’ Interrogating whether the neoliberal era is truly in decline, this study situates “Egypt vs. Masr” within broader conversations about social distinction, urban disparities, and the resilience of neoliberal systems in the Global South. (Less)
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author
Nienhuis, Renee LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ41 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Egypt, Urban Development, Neoliberalism, Bourdieu, Social Exclusion.
language
English
id
9196308
date added to LUP
2025-06-25 11:24:55
date last changed
2025-06-25 11:24:55
@misc{9196308,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the online “Egypt vs. Masr” trend as an entry point to
studying socio-economic disparities and spatial divides in urban Cairo. Drawing on ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and Mike Bailey’s ‘utopia of exclusion’ as criticism of neoliberalism, it aims to make sense of this trend and how it relates to the proliferation of Cairo’s upscale urban developments. As such, this thesis is engaged with social dynamics, discussions around class, urban development, and underlying economic structures, particularly neoliberalism. With an urban ethnographic approach, an investigation into upscale real estate developments, their marketing, and conversations with interlocutors; this thesis argues that within a neoliberal context, economic inequality and exclusionary practices in the city are naturalized and legitimized through practices related to symbolic violence, euphemistic language, and ‘enclavization.’ Interrogating whether the neoliberal era is truly in decline, this study situates “Egypt vs. Masr” within broader conversations about social distinction, urban disparities, and the resilience of neoliberal systems in the Global South.}},
  author       = {{Nienhuis, Renee}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“Egypt vs. Masr” - An Urban Ethnography of a Neoliberal Fairytale and its False Dichotomy}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}