ABSTRACT
The Muslim Brotherhood is the most significant Islamist movement in Egypt whose organizational remit compounds political, social and religious engagement. Its history is marked by political turbulence which brought it to prominent highs as a powerful mass-movement, political opposition, political party, and even government, while at other times experiencing the lows of persecution, official proscription, intra-organizational tensions and, when in power, widespread protest against its policies. In its ideological development, it laid the foundation for the ideational framework of Islamist radicalism, yet also generated justifications for non-violence, moderation, and political participation in a democratic setting. Having built a sophisticated organizational structure that withstood political pressures of consecutive authoritarian regimes, the Muslim Brotherhood expanded its remit to the social welfare sector where it ran hospitals, kindergartens, schools, youth clubs, and student associations. Its activities and ideas have spread, leading to the establishment of like-minded movements in many countries of the Middle East. Although it the Muslim Brotherhood’s presence in Egypt is severely curtailed since 2013, it can fall back on the support of an international network, thus ensuring its survival.
