Narration and Identity - Dealing with social and ideological heterogeneity in the Kefaya Movement

Sammanfattning: In authoritarian regimes all over the world, social movements have attracted atten¬tion as loud advocators of political change. Where traditional channels for political opposition are closed, loosely organized networks have paved the way for new strategic coalitions. This phenomenon raises questions about the connection between networks, identity and social action. By using a narrative approach this essay tries to shed light on the shaping of a collective identity, and indirectly collective action, in groups composed of actors from disparate communities with strong identity constructions of their own. The result builds on a field study of the Egyptian reform movement Kefaya. By combining a narrative framework with theories of network conversations the study directs attention to the complex interplay of unity and diversity within the Kefaya movement. It refines the picture of how factions and individuals within an organization use narrative techniques to emphasize personal or subgroup identities. Finally the study underlines the importance of identity also in movements not primarily engaged with ?identity politics?. Identities are connected to narratives about the world and thereby they are also one of the primary motives of action or non-action. The author requests a greater sensibility to these linkages in future social-movement research. Keywords: Narrative, Social Movement, Network, Identity, Egypt