Egypt – Intercultural Dialogue Index (ICDI)

Overview

Egypt has a homogenous population consisting of 97.7% of Arab-Egyptians. Yet, the Egyptian as a category is heterogeneous due to historical factors namely an influx of Persian, Roman, Greek, Crusader, Turk, and Circassians migrants and invaders (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2023a). The population of the Lower Nile Valley comprises ethnically and culturally distinct Nubians. In diverse regions of the country, mostly desert areas dwell different ethnic groups such as Bedouin Arab, Beja, Amazigh/Berber, Turks, Greeks.

Egypt has experienced a period of major political turmoil following the 2011 Arab Spring that swept across Arabic-speaking countries which led to multiple changes in the social and political landscapes. Recent constitutional amendments introduced in 2019 allowed the government to impose authoritarian rule and wield military power. With this, the government has suppressed political activity and extended state control over, civil society organisations, traditional and social media outlets. In addition, the government fails to fulfil promises to pass a legislation to protect religious minorities. Compared to several Arab countries, Egypt has modest economic inequality, yet there is significant geographic inequality, adversely impacting the rural areas where ethnic minorities reside (Verme et al., 2014). The prevailing political, socio-economic and cultural dynamic can affect intercultural relations amongst the different ethnic groups in Egypt.

Intercultural Dialogue Index (ICDI) Score

Component	Score
Legislative Dimension	0.45
Multiculturalism	0.23
Anti-Discrimination	0.67
Structural Dimension	0.33
Social Contact	0.03
Fractionalisation	0.87
Inequality	0.25
Access to communication	0.18
Cohesion and Stability	0.30
Opportunities Dimension	0.46
Attitudes	0.58
Inclusion	0.44
Freedoms and Rights	0.36
ICDI Score	0.41

Note: the higher values of the scores the more favourable the results.

Summary

Egypt has attained an overall ICDI score of 0.41. A score of 0.87 in the component of fractionalisation indicates that existing levels of cultural participation typically meet the conditions needed for a favourable degree of inclusion. In contrast, a score of 0.03 in the component of social contact signal low levels of cultural participation, and low numbers of living Indigenous and immigrant languages. A score of 0.18 reflects low access to modern communication.

Current situation and outlook

Egypt has below average scores across three dimensions which make up the overall ICDI score. Egypt can strengthen its ICDI score by strengthening its structural dimension. This can be done by increasing the opportunities for social contact through an encouragement of cultural participation and preserving living Indigenous and migrant languages. An increase in multicultural and diversity acts or policies can help support efforts towards increasing intercultural participation and facilitate cohesion and stability.