A Dictatorship with an Islamic Reference

Description

This article argues that the Muslim Brotherhood’s growing monopolization of political power in Egypt witnessed since the parliamentary and presidential elections does not only suggest a shift towards authoritarianism but a particular brand of Islamist totalitarianism. Our understanding of the Muslim Brotherhood’s policies since coming to power
has been hindered by insufficient attention given to the movement’s political thought, notwithstanding the need to avoid teleological approaches to the study of a highly dynamic political actor in a changing national and regional context. The Muslim Brotherhood’s idea of an Islamic state is one that grants the ruler a religious and political role and which blurs the lines between the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of the states, favours theocratic constitutionalism and the special positioning of the clergy in governance processes. Two key strategic policies championed by the Muslim Brotherhood are evoked to illustrate the shift towards the institution of such an Islamic state: the constitution agreed by the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly and the edicts issued by President Mohammed Morsi on November 22nd, 2012.