Fundamentalism and Intellectuals in Egypt, 1973-1993

This study examines the attitude of Egyptian intellectuals towards the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in modern Egypt. Though acknowledging that Islam is the basis of every aspect of life in Egyptian society, the intellectuals believe that to establish an Islamic state would mean a return to the Middle Ages and that Western values do not necessarily contradict Islam. Without taking advantage of the scientific and technological progress achieved in the West, Egypt cannot solve its social and economic problems and move forward into the twenty-first century. The question is: how far will these liberal intellectuals influence the future in Egypt?