ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the aftermath of the July 2013 military coup, looking in particular at the decline of the movement and the demobilization of the activists. The usurpation of the revolutionary youth’s name and popular legitimacy by counter-revolutionary forces, along with the context of brutality and popularity of the military regime, were direct catalysts of the movement’s deterioration, marked by organizational de-structuring, the sharp reduction in the number of activists, and the move underground. Beyond these obvious signs of movement decline, though, the activists’ profound rethinking of their foundational principles and practices have also signaled the fall of the movement. Adherence to revolutionary pureness, the post-ideological nature of activism, and the revindication of “youth” have been called into question in light of the movement’s failure to achieve its goals. While organizational survival strategies have been activated and certain groups continue to exist, the renegotiation of what “revolutionary youth” means in practice represents the most profound dimension of the movement’s decline.
