Religious Politics and the Arab Spring in Egypt Flashcards
(10 cards)
Religion and Politics
Religion provides politicians with a powerful organizing principle
Political struggles (over land and resources) = often couched in terms of religion
Religious organizations often provide
social-welfare networks, well-honed
grassroots elements
Successful organizing within civil society provides a platform for political activity
Rise of religion in Middle East politics
States intervene in religious field and deploy religious institutions for own goals.
1970s: Liberalization created a political environment conducive to growth of Islamism – into the vacuum of state retreat
= Religious civil society organizations filled vacuum left by the state by providing health and educational services
The Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) in Egypt
- Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al- Banna
- Advocated social welfare programs (literacy and education) and political participation
- Generally sought accommodation with secular leaders
- Al-Banna assassinated, likely by the state, in 1949
- Persecuted by Farouk, Nasser, Sadat, Mubarak governments: Pres. Nasser cracked down on Brotherhood; sought to modernize al-Azhar U in Cairo (1961); executed leader Sayyid Qutb (1966)
- Pres. Sadat freed imprisoned Brotherhood members, but was assassinated by extremist Brotherhood plot in 1981
Muslim Brotherhood’s increasing power in Egypt
Widespread public support and social welfare programs made Brotherhood a force in Egyptian politics
MB won many seats in parliamentary elections in 2000, 2005
Who protested in the Arab Spring?
The would-be middle class (those who are middle class in their culture and education but mostly excluded from it) along the fault of the younger generation” (Khosrokhavar 2012)
Most protesters were not motivated by religion.
Recruitment into the Brotherhood (Trager)
- five- to- eight- year indoctrination process, during which every Muslim Brother is steeped in the Brotherhood’s politicized interpretation of Islam, vetted for his belief in the organization’s ideology, and closely monitored for his obedience to following Brotherhood leaders’ orders
Post-modern nature of Arab Spring protests
Tunisian, Egyptian protesters had “no leadership, no hierarchy, no unifying ideology”
Protest movements were non-violent
Newfound importance of individual dignity
Arab Spring and the Brotherhood (Trager)
- When popular revolt toppled Pres. Mubarak in 2011, Brotherhood was the best-organized political force in Egypt
Most protesters were not from MB - Yet it won almost half of 498 seats in 2011-12 parliamentary election
- Its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won the 2012 presidential election
- The Brotherhood ‘saw Morsi’s presidency as an unprecedented opportunity to establish an “Islamic state” in Egypt, which it would use as a foothold for establishing a “global Islamic state”’ (Trager)
- It also anticipated a power struggle with the country’s military
Morsi’s turbulent year at the top
- Elected June 2012
- Granted himself the power to legislate without constitutional oversight
- Put a new, religiously influenced draft constitution to a referendum
- Oversaw prosecution of journalists, violent MB mobs, laws permitting 30-day detention without trial, impunity for attacks on minority Copts
- 9000 protests during his year in power
30 June 2013 - “Uniformed police officers joined the anti-Morsi protesters and declared that they wouldn’t return to work until the president was toppled”
- Brotherhood supporters responded helmets, shields, batons, and in some cases iron pipes”
Morsi Finally Toppled by Military
30/6/2013: Massive, widespread anti- Morsi protests on anniversary of his election to power
Three days later, Armed Forces Commander Abdel Fattah al-Sisi orders Morsi’s overthrow
Army cracks down on Morsi supporters, kills many hundreds of protesters
Brotherhood leaders arrested, some
sentenced to death
