Friction: The interplay of a Bedouin community, the Egyptian Government, local and global NGOs, South Sinai (August – December 2010)

Abstract: My thesis uses Anna Tsing’s metaphorical concept friction to investigate the interaction between the Egyptian national government, the international, national and local development organizations, and a local Bedouin community. My research is based on fieldwork in South Sinai, Egypt from August until December 2010. My thesis tries to explore an alternative understanding of sustainability, inspired by the nomadic Bedouin livelihood. It does so in a narrative fashion, where I present stories about the consequences of forced settlement on the environment in Sinai. By doing so, I discuss the development policies and efforts taken by governmental and non-governmental entities in the region since the 1980s, and so I question the commitment to sustainability in the post-settlement times. I use an analytical framework composed of five concepts with friction as the primarily key concept to my investigation. Other concepts include Representation, Dwelling, Narratives and Benevolent Colonialism.