The Arab Spring: A Revolution for Egyptian Emigration?

Overview & Synopsis

This paper examines the impacts of the Arab revolutions on Egyptian emigration, attending to the diverse temporalities of political life in the country and the region between 2011 and 2015. New flows, new reasons for migration (instability, insecurity), and new transnational practices (overseas voting) have arisen. During the postrevolutionary period, transnational practices gained momentum, a diaspora began to emerge (though this process was soon cut short), and Egyptian communities abroad became more visible. Transnational connections between Egyptians as well as migrants' or their descendants' links with Egypt were strengthened. Emigration doesn't mean an exit which makes all sense of loyalty disappear: the moral obligation to participate in their country's development fuelled the return of many migrants in the early days of the revolution. Nevertheless, the field of Egyptian migration has not been completely reconfigured by the Arab revolutions.