Mohammad Al Hamoush

Egypt ,Lebanon

This paper analyzes cooperation among religious and civil society organizations in Egypt and Lebanon during recent crises. Both countries have a history of sectarian tension and have experienced significant crises, including sectarian incidents, economic hardship, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Egypt, recent crises presented opportunities for cooperation between Islamic and Christian institutions and other civil society organizations. For example, a program in Upper Egypt involved collaboration between the Ministry of Social Solidarity and major NGOs to enhance citizenship values. The non-sectarian nature of the Egyptian state and its institutions facilitated cooperation.
In contrast, Lebanon’s sectarian political system allowed traditional powers to reassert their dominance during crises, weakening the impact of non-sectarian initiatives. The key difference between the two cases lies in the nature of the state and political system. Egypt’s non-sectarian state allows for state-supported cross-sectarian initiatives, while Lebanon’s sectarian system enables parties to reinforce their power and embed sectarian divisions.
The outcome of crises in these countries is heavily influenced by the nature of the political system and the state’s role, with crises serving as either opportunity for cross-sectarian cooperation or challenges that reinforce sectarian divisions.