Coptic Christianity vs. IslamA Comparative study of relations

between Muslims and Christians in Egypt since 1990

Research Question

How has the relationship between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt changed during the last 20 years?

My Background

• Trip to Egypt in 2008

• Major Specialization: International Communications focusing on the Middle East

• Religious Heritage of the West

– Christianity and Islam have the same roots

– Interest in communications between religious groups

• Study Abroad next year (hopefully)

Methodology

• Longitudinal Comparative study

– Looking at relations between Coptic Christians and Muslims from 1990 to 2011

• Factors that I am comparing:

–Number of Terrorist attacks

–Number of Christians

–Economic status of Muslims and Christians

–Political standings

–National identity

–Use of media

Sources

• Books– Makari, Peter E. Conflict & Cooperation: Christian-Muslim

Relations in Contemporary Egypt. Syracuse: Syracuse UP, 2007. Print.

– Hassan, Sana. Christians versus Muslims in Modern Egypt: the Century-long Struggle for Coptic Equality. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2003. Print.

• Scholarly Articles

• Newspapers

Conclusion

• The relationship has been slowly deteriorating

– There has been an increase in the number of terrorist attacks and disagreements

• Especially in late 2010

– The number of Christians has decreased

• Hypothetical Causes:

– Economic inequality

– Increasing sense of Islamic national identity

– Changing political ideology

– News Media increased coverage

Continuing Research

• How will Mubarak’s resignation effect this relationship? – Mubarak was President during the entire time

period I researched

– Depending on what happens in the Fall Presidential elections, there could be serious implications for Coptic Christians in Egypt

Questions?