Political Culture of Egyptians in the Third Millennium: An Analytical Study of the World Values Survey

This study seeks to analyze the political culture of Egyptians over the past two decades, by monitoring the transformations that have occurred in their attitudes towards political institutions, democracy, and social affiliations. The study aims to understand the extent to which political and economic transformations have affected trust in institutions, and the extent of Egyptians' support for democracy, in addition to exploring the factors influencing circles of belonging. Data from the World Values ​​Survey, collected in four main waves during the years 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018, were used to analyze these transformations. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach, using the meta-analysis method of the survey data to provide a comprehensive picture of political culture. The analysis was divided into three main axes: trust in institutions (such as religious institutions, the press, political parties, and the police), attitudes towards democracy, and circles of belonging. Changes in these axes were analyzed across the survey waves to identify the main trends in the political culture of Egyptians. The results showed a significant decline in trust in institutions, especially after the events of 2011 and the political and economic turmoil that followed. There was also a general tendency to prefer democracy, but this preference declined as a result of the difficult political experiences in the post-2011 period. In terms of belonging, Egyptians maintained a strong sense of belonging to their country and their religious and historical identity, but confidence in the political system and institutions remained wavering.