As we face worldwide democratic backsliding, can we count on civil society orgs like the Catholic Church (CC) to intervene as a backstop? In new research, @dinaosama.bsky.social‬ finds no unified response from natl CCs, but religious competition and previous 3rd wave support make it more likely.

Check out my new blog post in Religion in Public on my latest article in Politics and Religion. Do Catholic churches matter in today’s struggles with democratic backsliding and autocratization?

Polisky Dictatorsky menasky Afripolsky relpol polrel poliscisky

#OpenAccess from Politics and Religion - Catholic churches’ stances toward electoral manipulation in the post-Third Wave period - cup.org/4ot1WRe - @dinaosama.bsky.social #FirstView

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🚨New Publication🚨 Thrilled to announce my newly published paper in Politics and Religion! This paper examines Catholic Churches’ stances toward electoral manipulation in the post–Third Wave period. It’s an open-access article🔓 doi.org/10.1017/S175...

Even though I didn't know her personally, I have been amazed by her work and how she proved that a woman from the Global South (Egypt) can compete internationally in academia. She was an inspiring woman to me, even though she was from a different field. Rest in peace, Dr. Laila!

Trump is calling for ethnic cleansing—“clean out that whole thing” was his phrase!—but the NYT manages to make him sound like a humanitarian.

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My article is now open access! It analyzes religious institutions' diverse responses to democratic backsliding and regime survival, with religious competition and historical pro-democratic roles as the main explanatory factors. Menasky Dictatorsky Afripolsky relpol Poliscisky

Something is cooking…

«continued assistance of the armed forces to the police in protecting public and vital facilities, including those that harm the basic needs of society, such as food & other basic commodities, or national security requirements, which are issued by a decision of the President of the Republic» Menasky

Happy January 25th 🇪🇬 Today we mark the 13th anniversary of the Tahrir Square Revolution. Menasky

Al-Sisi says that he and the Egyptian people will stand in front of God (in the doomsday), and he will hold the Egyptian people accountable in the doomsday as they are holding him accountable now. Al-Sisi doesn’t only highly regulate religion; he also has his own version of religious beliefs.

The «Students Revolution» Statue is located at Cairo University. Its story revolves around the university’s students’ opposition to British colonialism. What freaks me out when I pass by the statue is the homeless dogs that sit in front of it 😅

I wonder how many constitutions were changed or amended in Africa just in the last 4 years. Lots and lots of times. As if the problem is in the constitution. Stop messing with people’s minds.

Is resisting backsliding sufficient to preserve democracy? Congo DR’s latest elections tell us that despite the fact that the Catholic Church played important historical roles in resisting electoral manipulation, the elections are still rigged, and nothing has changed. Dictatorsky Afripolsky polisky

Cairokee is not just a band; it has been our voice since January 25, 2011, when we could not speak. Its revolutionary songs give us hope. Here is their latest song for the Palestinian cause. Turn the subtitles on to understand the lyrics. Menasky youtu.be/Zf3BvhjWTKg?...

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Post-Arab uprisings “Third-termism” is now witnessed in Egypt. If you are interested in understanding the different methods and features of circumventing term limits and the reasons behind changing them in post-democratic transitions (successful/failed ones) check out my article in Democratization.

A political science professor at Cairo University said in a television interview that securing 89.6% of the votes instead of 97% means that there is competition. I am thinking of quitting my job 😃

Al-Azhar, and Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical churches and leaders congratulated President al-Sisi for his new term in office.

Egyptian Presidential Elections Results: Sisi won 89.6% Turnout: 66.8% Invalid votes: 1% It is worth noting that al-Sisi won 96.1% of the votes in 2014 and 97% in 2018. Menasky

Cairo University in 2011 vs. Cairo University in 2023

Pastors of the Evangelical Churches have also been present in the Egyptian presidential election. Menasky

The Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Tawadros II, voted in the presidential election today. Menasky

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Al-Awqaf Imams are grouped together (organized) to participate in the 2024 Egyptian presidential elections. Menasky

Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb casts his electoral vote today.

The Catholic Church in Guatemala plays an important role in resisting electoral manipulation. It demands respect for election results.

The Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Tawadros II, encourages the Egyptians to participate in the presidential elections by saying, "Do not neglect your rights and the rights of your country." Menasky

Self-censorship, hostile pressure campaigns, feckless administrators. Shibley Telhami and I have a new article in the Chronicle of Higher Education based on our recent MESB survey of almost 1000 academic Middle East scholars. Its chilling. abuaardvark.substack.com/p/gaza-and-a...

Corruption and Ministries in Egypt A corruption network in the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade obtained and provided bribes to manipulate the prices of goods and withhold food supplies from citizens. Last year, 4 officials from the Ministry of Health were referred to trial in a bribery case.

The next Friday’s sermon was published by Al-Awqaf. It discusses "positivity." It emphasizes how crucial it is to vote in the upcoming presidential election, which takes place next week. It provides examples of how the Prophet Mohamed valued constructive engagement and participation. Menasky

Autocratic regimes love democratic institutions. That’s why oppositions have recently resorted to autocratic methods in fighting the autocrats: Military coups, boycotts, and violent protests.

Sudan... ⚠️ More violence in more parts of the country; ⚠️ Mass atrocity crimes against civilians; ⚠️ 6 million people have fled their homes; ⚠️ Healthcare & education devastated; ❓ Where is the international community? www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...

According to Dar al-iftaa, the parallel fatwa institution to al-Azhar: Anyone who abstains from casting his electoral vote is a sinner according to Islamic law and is considered to be concealing testimony-Youm7 mentions a previous Fatwa by Dar aliftaa 🇪🇬Presid Elec menasky m.youm7.com/story/2023/1...

How to fight autocrats when the western style of democracy is losing its luster.

I need to check the fact that the regimes that most encourage citizens to vote in elections are authoritarian regimes.

Finally it is out! One part of my PhD thesis is now published in Government and Opposition! « Religious institutions’ stances towards Autocratization in the Post-Third wave period » Link: doi.org/10.1017/gov.... Dictatorsky polisky

I am so pleased to hear feedback on my newly published article.

Today's Dictatorsky shoutout goes to @dinaosama.bsky.social's fantastic article on the role of religious institutions in autocratization. Really cool work that I look forward to seeing more of. Polisky www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Finally it is out! One part of my PhD thesis is now published in Government and Opposition! « Religious institutions’ stances towards Autocratization in the Post-Third wave period » Link: doi.org/10.1017/gov.... Dictatorsky polisky

Bread, freedom, social justice calls during the pro-Palestinian protests. The 🇪🇬regime knows very well that this is going to happen as it already happened in MarsaMatrouh during the October war anniversary state-organized celebrations. what is the aim of organizing protests, knowing the consequences?

Egyptians are protesting in Tahrir Square after 10 years. This is not a state-organized protest, but people went there because this is where the Egyptians usually protest. This video shows how the protesters were like birds who went out of their cages. Menasky x.com/oelfatairy/s...

Based on the speeches given by Western politicians: People who live in democracies are more valuable than those who live in non-democracies since the latter are accustomed to being subjugated, silenced, and humiliated. Thus, their lives don’t matter much.

Cairo University students march in solidarity with Palestine. Menasky