In this thesis, I will investigate how the Ultras, a group of organized and nationalistic
Egyptian football fans who are widely credited with having played a major part in the more
physical aspects of the Egyptian uprising (Woltering 2013), became politicized and significant
actors in the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The Ultras, as hard-core soccer supporters, have the ethos
of fanatical commitment towards their respective clubs (Jerzak 2013). In the case of Egypt, most
of these Ultras are associated with the two largest soccer clubs, Al-Ahly and Al-Zamalek. I will
analyze what political ideologies and social and economic factors have affected the mobilization
of the Ultras, and assess whether the Ultras have specific sustainable political objectives and
organizational leadership strategies to be viable Egyptian political actors. Interrelated factors,
such as political beliefs, socio-economic status, educational level, organizational structure,
gender, and age will be used to understand the coalescence of the Ultras as a significant political
force during and after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. This analysis will provide a fundamental
understanding of how the Ultras transformed into revolutionary actors, through their autonomy
in public spaces, and why this dissent became an organized and influential political movement
that transitioned from the soccer stadiums to the public forums of political protest. I will use
semi-structured interviews, with academicians and Ultra leaders, and an analysis of published
data and sources to understand how the Ultras transformed into revolutionary actors, and whether
they will have a sustainable and meaningful political impact on the Egyptian political scene.Bachelor of Art
