Egypt’s Arab Fall: Understanding the Organization and Policies of the Muslim Brotherhood

Year 2020, , 2154 - 2178, 30.09.2020

Ayfer Erdogan

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.681221

Abstract

The Muslim Brotherhood witnessed an unexpected political power with its electoral victory in legislative and presidential elections soon after the fall of Mubarak in Egypt. Although the Brotherhood enjoyed high popular support, to a great extent, thanks to its charity activities and social services, soon after Morsi took office, this popular support began to diminish dramatically. On the first anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration as president, millions of Egyptians took to the streets to protest against his administration. Massive street protests ended up with a military coup that eliminated the prospects for Egypt’s transition to democracy. This article investigates how the Brotherhood’s policies vis a vis the deep state in Egypt made the organization vulnerable in the awake of street protests in 2013. First, the article makes a brief overview of the historical evolution of the Muslim Brotherhood and then, it explores critical decisions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood leadership during Egypt’s transition and their implications. Finally, it examines the organization’s policies in the aftermath of the coup.  

Keywords

Arab uprisings, 2013 coup, political Islam, Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt

Mısır’ın Arab Sonbaharı: Müslüman Kardeşlerin Örgütlenmesi ve Politikalarını Anlamak

Abstract

Mübarek rejiminin çöküşünden kışa bir süre sonra Müslüman Kardeşler milletvekili ve cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimlerinde kazandığı zaferle birlikte beklenmedik bir siyasi güce kavuştu. Müslüman Kardeşler büyük ölçüde yardım etkinlikleri ve sosyal hizmetleri sayesinde geniş çaplı bir halk desteğine sahipti, fakat halk desteği Mursi’nin göreve başlamasından kısa bir süre sonra ciddi bir şekilde azalmaya başladı. Mursi’nin iktidara gelişimin birinci yıldönümünde, milyonlarca Mısırlı Mursi’yi ve onun yönetimini protesto etmek için sokaklara döküldü. Yoğun sokak gösterileri Mısır’ın demokrasiye geçiş beklentilerini ortadan kaldıran bir askeri darbe ile sonuçlandı. Bu makale Müslüman Kardeşler hareketinin Mısır’da derin devlete karşı izlediği politikaların örgütü 2013’teki kitlesel sokak protestoları karşısında nasıl savunmasız bıraktığını analiz etmektedir. Makale öncelikle Müslüman Kardeşler hareketinin tarihsel evrimini ve Mısır’ın geçiş süreci esnasında örgütün liderleri tarafından alınan kritik kararları ve bunların sonuçlarını ele almaktadır. Son olarak, makale 2013 askeri darbesinden sonra Müslüman Kardeşler’in izlediği politikaları incelemektedir.

Keywords

Arap isyanları, 2013 darbesi, siyasi İslam, Müslüman Kardeşler, Mısır

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