Current Trends in the Ideology of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood

Dr. Israel Elad Altman

The American-led Middle East reform and democratization campaign of the last twoyears has helped shape a new political reality in Egypt. Opportunities have opened up fordissent. Maghna. u appoġġ Ewropew, local opposition groups have been able to takeinitiative, javvanzaw il-kawżi tagħhom u estratt konċessjonijiet mill-istat. The EgyptianMuslim Brotherhood movement (MB), which has been officially outlawed as a politicalorganization, is now among the groups facing both new opportunities and new risks.Western governments, inkluż il-gvern tal-Istati Uniti, are consideringthe MB and other “moderate Islamist” groups as potential partners in helping to advancedemocracy in their countries, u forsi wkoll fil-qerda tat-terroriżmu Iżlamiku. Couldthe Egyptian MB fill that role? Could it follow the track of the Turkish Justice andDevelopment Party (AKP) u l-Partit tal-Ġustizzja Prospera Indoneżjan (PKS), twoIslamist parties that, skond xi analisti, are successfully adapting to the rules ofliberal democracy and leading their countries toward greater integration with,rispettivament, Ewropa u Asja "pagana".?Dan l-artikolu jeżamina kif l-MB wieġeb għar-realtà l-ġdida, how it has handledthe ideological and practical challenges and dilemmas that have arisen during the pasttwo years. To what extent has the movement accommodated its outlook to newcircumstances? X'inhuma l-għanijiet tagħha u l-viżjoni tagħha tal-ordni politiku? How has itreacted to U.S. overtures u għall-kampanja ta' riforma u demokratizzazzjoni? How has itnavigated its relations with the Egyptian regime on one hand, and other opposition forceson the other, hekk kif il-pajjiż mexxa lejn żewġ elezzjonijiet drammatiċi fil-ħarifa 2005? Towhat extent can the MB be considered a force that might lead Egypt toward liberaldemocracy?