Populism, Religion, and the Formation of Theo-Secular Regimes

Presentation of a research project as part of the "Jeudis de la Maison Suger", a residents' research seminar.

This session will be led by Dina Osama Lotfy, who will present his research entitled “Populism, Religion, and the Formation of Theosecular Regimes.” Through a case study of Egypt under the presidency of ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī, this presentation will explore the relationship between populism, religion, and the legitimation of political power.

"Existing research on populism and religion distinguishes between the politicization of religion and the sacralization of politics, yet it pays less attention to cases in which populist rulers strategically control religious institutions while invoking divine legitimacy. This article introduces the concept of the Theo-secular regime, arguing that, in certain contexts, authoritarian populists combine institutional control over religion with narratives of divine mandate to construct “the people,” delegitimize opponents, and consolidate power. The article develops a theoretical framework centered on three mechanisms: (1) selective othering, (2) religious regulation, and (3) divine legitimation. Drawing on an in-depth case study of Egypt under ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī (2014–2024), the article shows how these mechanisms enable the populist regime to redefine the boundaries of legitimate religion and marginalize challengers. By situating Theo-secular governance within the study of populism, the article demonstrates how religion can function as a central component of populist boundary-making and authoritarian legitimation."

Dina Osama Lotfy is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Cairo University. Her research focuses on autocratic transitions, religion and politics, and terrorism. She earned her B.A., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in political science from Cairo University. She was a 2025–2026 Global Fellow at the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. Her work has also been published in several leading international journals, such as Democratization, Government and Opposition, and Politics and Religion.