Egypt, Iran, and the Hizbullah Cell

Using Sectarianism to “De-Arabize” and Regionalize Threats to National Interests

Bibliographic Data

ID10278635
AuthorsElizabeth Monier (0000-0002-8608-2400, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume69
Issue3
Pages341-357
Publication date2015-07-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Middle East Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0026-3141 • E-ISSN: 1940-3461
PublisherThe Middle East Journal (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3751/69.3.11
OpenAlexW2172259887
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited12

This article argues that anti-Shi‘ism is simply one component in a strategy to justify and enforce Egypt’s security policies and regional leadership goals. An examination of Egyptian press coverage of the 2009 discovery of a Hizbullah cell in Egypt illustrates a process through which Shi‘ism is initially identified as a sectarian threat, but then “de-Arabized” through linkage with Iran. Despite being an Arab organization, Egyptian media portray Hizbullah as a non-Arab challenge to the Arab world’s stability, more than a Shi‘i challenge to Sunnism or a security threat. This indicates that Egypt’s traditional foreign policy of defending Arab interests is more important than sectarianism in conceptualizing threats to its security

Ancient history · Political science · Sectarianism · History · Law · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Middle East Politics and Society · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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