Islamism and the Transformation of Authoritarianism: the Muslim Brothers in Egypt between History and Present

This chapter analyzes the political interaction between Islamism and authoritarianism in the political evolution of the Egyptian political system (1990-2011), with special reference to the Association of the Muslim Brothers (MB). To this end, the chapter considers two main interrelated issues: the evolution of authoritarianism in Egypt’s political system from Nasser to Mubarak and the history of MB’s political participation in Egypt up to the first phase of the post-Mubarak political transition (June 2011). Political structures and regime policies are the main focus of the analysis of the political system. Ideology, political practice and the influence of leading personnalities are the focus of the analysis of the MB.