Should We Fear Muslim Brotherhood Influence in Egypt?

[drmeow]

edit for typo

A lengthy but interesting blog post by a Religious Studies PhD - a specialist on Islam in Egypt who did a Fulbright in Cairo. Gives a brief history of MB in Egypt as well as addressing the title question. I have only included the concluding paragraph below.


"Overall, if the Muslim Brotherhood were to assume a leading role in the government of a post-Mubarak Egypt, I do not think it would result in a new “enemy state” or Iranian-style theocracy. Indeed, the Egyptian context is fundamentally different than the Iranian – perhaps that debate deserves a separate blog post. While concerns that the MB might curb democratic channels once in power are warranted, their base of support is not large enough to place them in such a position, nor has the current leadership demonstrated any such ambitions. The MB will act as a conservative religious party within a coalition government, not unlike religious conservatives in the U.S. Congress."

http://comops.org/journal/2011/02/04/should-we-fear-muslim-brotherhood-influence-in-egypt/

[harun]

1. Nice piece thanks for posting.

[Mz Pip]

2. I tend to agree

They will have influence but they will not be in control.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes... Here is the similar opinion of another expert....

Nathan Brown, a political science professor at George Washington University and director of its Institute for Middle East Studies, who has written extensively on the Muslim Brotherhood
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/01/31/muslim_brotherhood

Q: Is the Brotherhood something that should be a source of fear in the way it's being talked about by many people?

We've got a big headache in Egypt. The regime in its current form is toast. Our regional policy has been based on a very close working relationship with the Egyptian government since 1974, so we've got fundamental rethinking to do. The Brotherhood is part of that headache. It's not the biggest part. Is there cause for concern? Yes. Is there cause for fearful reaction? Absolutely not.




Also read this excellent overview of the Mubarak Governmental players involved:
http://bullybloggers.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/why-mubarak-is-out/
Paul Amar
Associate Professor of Global & International Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara

[hlthe2b]

4. It is sad that posts like this can't get recs or more comment...

It is not that any DUer is promoting the Muslim Brotherhood IN ANY WAY, but is it not a progressive value to look at the facts around an issue or group? How important this is--particularly where the RW is working overtime to make them the boogeymen and promote them as the cause of the protests in Egypt. Don't we at least deserve to discuss and to look at what the various experts on Islam and Egypt have to say?

Whoever is unrecommending this and similar threads has my utmost contempt. Ignorance is not a progressive value.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I think people are reading

And thinking the op is asking the question from a place of "Fear the Muslims". If they actually read the post. . . it becomes one you can't help but giving a kick and a rec too.


I find the first analysis interesting . . . that they'll be like The Christian Coalition of Egypt. I take that to mean - within 10 years Egypt will have it's very own version of Bill Maher laughing at the fundies every chance he/she gets! ;-)

[hlthe2b]

6. I think my previous post...

seems to be reminding some folks to recommend now. Important since these threads sink to a lowly death if folks merely read and don't comment/recommend.

But, yes, I think you are right in that some fear this is a "hit piece" and not reading further.

[drmeow]

9. Hmm - maybe I should

have done a better job when I posted it. Good point and I'll keep it in mind when I post in the future.

Also - I LOVE the image of an Egyptian Bill Maher or Jon Stewart laughing at the fundies!

[JustAnotherGen]

15. Me too!

:rofl:

[loudsue]

7. This is one of the many discussions we might have about global changes going on.

While extremists in the most powerful religions are inclined to insert themselves into every political discussion in today's world, there are also many people, who are not so well organized, that do not want to live under religious rule. The Taliban were unpopular as rulers BECAUSE of the religious aspects, but were tolerated (not supported) because of the relative stability they offered to a tribal society.

Societies do so much better when there is stability in the government. That is why the republicans have done everything in their power to destabilize the U.S. They don't want the society to do better, they only want the WEALTHY to do better.

The wealthy and powerful are truly scared people: they are so afraid of losing what they think is theirs that they become despots, tyrants, or they support despots who support them.

That is why people should not be allowed to become that wealthy...just wealthy enough to create incentive, and not a penny more.

[Iggo]

8. Too soon to tell. Should we fear the present sitch under Mubarak?

Signs point to Yes.

[NoPasaran]

10. A very informative post

[grahamhgreen]

11. No. We should fear those who sent people to Egypt to be tortured in the so called "war on terror"

[sabrina 1]

12. No, that is simply the same old scare tactic that is used here to

keep the population in state of perpetual fear so the ruling class can dominate the country.

[eissa]

13. In a word, yes

We should fear any religious role in government. No, the MB is not an Iranian-style theorcracy, nor the Taliban. But they are first and foremost a religious order and have no business governing a nation. While I (sadly) feel there is a role for them in Egyptian politics, as there is here with christian conservatives, and in Israel with their religious parties, I remain hopeful that they will continue to draw a minimal following (most experts seem to place it around 30%.)

Bottome line, they are not the Muslim Boogeymen the right tries to make them out to be, but they are hardly a comforting choice for the intellectual/secular/non-muslim communities in Egypt.

[H2O Man]

14. Why?

[Iterate]

16. No, it's the NDP that's a problem.

No one knows how much support the MB would have in a valid, democratic election. In general though, elections where there are a multitude of viable parties have tended to minimize the appeal of extreme views. Moreover, the MB itself has integrated many factions over the past few decades and even if it did achieve a majority, there's no indication it would govern counter to the wishes of the current revolution.

That revolution is clearly concerned with representation, bread, jobs, and an end to repression. It is the single-party state, the NDP, that is the cause of those grievances, and I suspect the desire to keep themselves in power has more to do with the current standoff that simply Mubarak's self-sacrifice.