Abstract
This paper explores how Al-Azhar, Egypt’s preeminent Islamic institution, operates as an organization navigating uncertainty within authoritarian political systems. It examines whether Al-Azhar functions primarily as an instrument of state legitimacy or as an institution with its own agency capable of shaping political and social realities. Drawing on theories of institutionalism, organizational autonomy, and authoritarian resilience, the paper analyzes Al-Azhar’s evolution across three critical periods: before the 2011 revolution, during the revolutionary transition (2011–2013), and under the post-2013 Sisi regime. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducts discourse analysis of the Grand Imams’ speeches and institutional documents to trace shifts in organizational tone, narratives of authority, and patterns of alignment or contestation with the state. Al-Azhar’s authority—anchored in its historical legitimacy, moral capital, and symbolic sanctity—reveals how religious organizations can adapt, survive, and exert influence amid political turbulence and uncertainty. By framing Al-Azhar as an organization embedded in an uncertain world, the paper contributes to discussions on institutional structures and organizational knowledge within authoritarian contexts. It argues that even in restrictive environments, institutions with cultural and moral authority develop adaptive strategies that sustain limited forms of agency and influence. In doing so, the paper highlights how uncertainty becomes both a constraint and an opportunity for organizations negotiating power, legitimacy, and survival.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Organization in Uncertain Worlds
KEYWORDS
Al-Azhar, Authoritarianism, Institutional Structures, Organizational Knowledge, Uncertainty, Egypt, Religious Institutions, Legitimacy, Adaptation, Political Turbulence
