1st International Conference on Government and Politics

March 20, 2015, Rangsit University, Thailand

Arab Spring and the Rise of Political Islam in Egypt

Pavinee Madaman*

Abstract
This research examines the story of Arab Spring and the rise of political Islam, offering deep insights
into the evolution of Islamist movements which play a critical role in the unfolding of a new Middle East, and
in which the author chooses Egypt as a case study, with focusing upon the role of the Muslim brotherhood.
This thesis seeks to study the emergence and the role of political Islam in Egypt and examine the success
and the future trends of political Islam in Egypt by applying the linkage theory of James N. Rosenau and the
Islamic theory of Ummah. This research is qualitative research used to define the problem, or develop an
approach to the problem.
Egypt is considered one of a major power, with significant cultural, political and military influence in
North Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world so, its unstable and political environment can affect to the
International community. The research found that the rise of Islamic power in Egypt had parallels across the
region and Islamist movements were well positioned to take advantage of political openings, and have indeed
taken the lead in many of the transitions. For the political Islam in Egypt, the Muslim brotherhood is one of the
factors that have become more and more important actor in conducting the situation.
Keyword: Arab Spring, Political Islam, Muslim Brotherhood, Ummah, Islamists, Revolution

Introduction
In 2011, the international community saw unimaginable situations happened in the Middle East and
North Africa region (MENA). The unprecedented events of Arab Spring, which occurred as a result of regional
movements, led by young, educated and moderate revolutionists who were seeking a better life, appeared at
the forefront of the international apolitical stage, because of many increasing crises, such as: food prices,
high unemployment, lack of opportunity for political participation, freedom and the ineffective long-run political
monopoly of many governments in the area.
As the uprising occurred, it created a political atmosphere which changed the whole political system.
It did not only happen with an aim towards democracy and equality, or to overturn the tyrannical leader in
mind, but to also restore the rule of religion (Malueem, 2013) which could not see such a tangible uprising,
*

Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Studies, Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, Rangsit University,
Thailand; Email: sheharm_sheem@hotmail.com

1st International Conference on Government and Politics

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and yet this appeared more clearly from the results of elections. The political ideology of the Islamic party wins
the majority votes in elections in many countries, such as the Al-Nahda Party of Tunisia and the Freedom
and Justice Party of Egypt.

Objectives
1. this thesis seeks to study the emergence and the role of political Islam in Egypt.
2. to analyses the internal and external factors which contributed to the rise of political Islam in
Egypt.
3. to examine the success and the future trends of political Islam in Egypt.

Significance of the Study

Egypt is considered one of a major power, with significant cultural, political and military influence in
North Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world; yet protests brought down the presidency of Mubarak and
his government. As a result, Egypt has been fighting against its unstable and political environment, and so
researching in terms of the Arab Spring events, and the rise of political Islam as a case study of Egypt, is a
useful topic for those who are interested in the Middle East, and who try to have a deeper understanding
about its political arena and new political trends.

Conceptual Framework
The events of Arab Spring, which were followed by the rise of political Islam, can be described by
relevant theories, which include: 1) the linkage theory of James N. Rosenau (1969), which provides a
framework of the interactions between internal and external factors, including A Heuristic Model by Yung Wei
(2002), and 2) the Islamic theory of Ummah (Khan, 2001), a term which refers to a single group sharing a
common, religious orientation. Ummah is a universal community of believers, crossing all barriers of caste,
colour, race, nationality and territory. According to Abdullah al Ahsan; It was the Ummah consciousness of
modern Muslims that led them, in 1969, to form a political institution known as the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference (OIC). This theory became the main idea for the setting up of many Islamic
organisations and Islamic parties around the world.
Furthermore, Islamism as a political movement, and political Islam, is already included in parts of
Islamic ideology. Islamic ideals have been vital in driving political organisations or movements into a position
of political dominance.

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Literature Review
Ummah Theory and the idea of political Islam
In International Relations of the Middle East (Fawcett, 2009) it was mentioned that the concept of
the Ummah, or community of believers (potentially global in scope), has been a part of the Islamic political
lexicon since the time of the Prophet. The idea of interaction between political communities has been
presented in the Islamic tradition ever since it was founded in the seventh century. Not only the core textual
sources of Islam, such as the Quran and Sunna (the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), make mention of
the key concept of international relations, such as nations, power, political authority and even treaty making. It
can be seen in the first centuries of Islamic history there is plenty of evidence that Muslim political leaders
were actively engaged in diplomacy, trade negotiations and warfare, with neighbouring polities. According to
the book Reasserting International Islam: A focus on the organisation of the Islamic conference and other
Islamic Institutions, Ummah became the main idea and root cause of Islamic organisational establishments,
including Islamic parties, in the MENA regions such as the organization of Muslim Brotherhood. The concept
underlying political Islam is the belief that Islam is a way of life. It is a comprehensive religion governing all
aspects of human life, with no separation between any of the aspects, including its political aspect. Political
Islam here refers to the idea that Islam and politics are two inseparable parts.
Political Islam in the politic of Middle East (Maluleem, 2012) explains Middle Eastern issues
through Islamic details. There are theories which relate to political Islam, such as: Islamic fundamentalism,
Jihad, and Ummah or Mujahedeen. All of these theories have had impacts uponthe politics of the Middle East,
in broadways. The book also helps to understand more the stories of famous thinkers, who played a large role
in political Islamism of the Middle East, including Islamic organisations which use Islamic rule and the
movement of political Islam. It helps us to gather a deeper understanding about the politics of the Middle East
in various ways. The book describes three Islamic scholars: Imam Komaine, Saiyid Abulala Maududi and
SaiyidKud, who had their own ideology for restoring Islam within modern Western culture.

Discussions
Political Islam after Arab Spring
The Islamist landscape of Egypt has been significantly altered by the revolution, with dramatic
changes taking place within the Islamist movement since the removal of Mubarak. The first wave of protests,
which lasted almost three weeks, was sufficient to end Mubaraks thirty year presidency and open up political
opportunities for Islamist groups, the largest of which is the Muslim Brotherhood (MB).Within a few days of
Mubaraks removal, the MB set about creating an independent political party, allowing the group to separate
its activities and maintain its earlier focus on social activities. This represented a change from many years of
operating as a singular organization which centralized all of its activities, but the sudden lifting of state
oppression allowed the transformation to take place.
The result was the formation of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), whose leaders were obliged to
leave the executive council of the MB. The party distanced itself from some of the more radical ideas of the
MB which had been announced in 2007. These controversial policies had included such measures as
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preventing women or Coptic Christians from becoming president. Following the establishment of the FJP, the
MB began to fragment, with one of the most important splits coming when the reformist leader, Abdel Moneim
Abdel Fotouh, announced that he would run for president. In addition, many younger MB members who had
helped to overthrow Mubarak during the protests in Tahrir Square were dismissed. Many of them subsequently
came together to form the Egyptian Current Party.
The revolution, however, also affected other sectors of society. Salafi groups began to take an
interest in politics, which they had not been previously known to do. Although they played little part as the
protests against Mubarak started, they started to join in greater numbers towards the end of the uprising. In
the aftermath of Tahrir Square, they began to create their own political parties and organize their activities in
the political field. The outcome of this new trend for greater involvement will be seen over the coming years.
The Muslim Brotherhoods Role Following Egypts Arab Spring
For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood had operated in opposition to the secular dictatorship of
Mubarak. The group was the largest Islamist organization in the Arab world, and had been banned under
Mubarak, but the state did not actively seek to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood altogether. In turn, neither
was the Muslim Brotherhood actively aiming to overthrow Mubaraks government, and indeed, some of its
members had participated in elections prior to the Arab Spring. It can therefore be argued that Islamists did
not play a particularly major role in the revolution of 2011 (Manfreda, 2011). The major Islamist groups in
both Egypt and Tunisia had refrained from supporting the protests until it had become clear that the governing
regimes might falter. In Egypt, however, once the Islamists did choose to side with protestors, they brought
with them the organizational capacity to overcome the police. That proved to be a crucial step is persuading
the army not to intervene in support of Mubarak.
Eventually, therefore, the Islamists did become a part of the Arab Spring, which was an uprising
based on a notion of freedom which diverse groups could all support. Islamists were no exception to this; the
MB in Egypt and Al Nahda in Tunisia had been calling for democratic elections for many years, while in
Morocco, the Islamists had parliamentary representation through the Justice and Development Party.
The Factors Leading to the Rise of Political Islam
1. Islamist groups had been suppressed by Arab dictators backed by the West. With the removal of
these dictators, the Islamists had the opportunity and freedom to participate.
2. Egypt is a country which has a large proportion of its population living in poverty, with little hope of
advancement. Elections allow this sector of society to make its views known, often through political Islam.
3. The Islamists have played a role over many years in social welfare and development. Since they
help the poorest communities, they are considered to be in tune with the needs of ordinary people.
4. A large proportion of Arab society wishes to preserve its Muslim identity and culture. The Islamist
parties prioritize this in a way which other parties do not. The Egyptian elite may be westernized, but a majority
of the population are deeply conservative and do not wish to become a westernized society. The MB appeals
to Egyptians who feel this way. The Muslim Brotherhood is the champions of this aspiration.
5. They have popularity among the grassroots people in the society due to their social activity and
social welfare that conducted for long time.

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6. Political opponent of the regimes in the military junta were suppressed and they were very weak.
After Arab Spring, the only strongest political force was the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Political Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood
In 2012, Egypt held its first ever free presidential election, under conditions created by the 2011
revolution. The election rules stipulated that candidates had to be born in Egypt to Egyptian parents. They
could not hold a foreign passport, nor could they have a foreign spouse. Convicted criminals would have to
wait for a period of six years before they could run for office. To be nominated, the suppo rt of either 30
members of parliament or 30,000 members of the electorate was necessary. The election itself comprised
two rounds of voting. In the first round on 23-24 May 2012, the leaders were Mohammed Morsi of the FJP
and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, with 24.78% and 23.66% of the vote, respectively. The run-off
was held on 1617 June 2012, and was won by Morsi who garnered support of 51%. Ahmed Shafiq, who
had served as prime minister under Mubarak was narrowly defeated, while 800,000 of the 26 million ballots
were declared invalid. The results were a clear indication that the Islamists were becoming a strong political
force in Egypt.

Conclusion
Weaknesses of the Muslim Brotherhood
When a party based on ideology actually takes power, the realities of the exercise can eventually
weaken rather than strengthen the party. Although the Islamists have some measure of popular support, they
do not control the military, and Egyptian society is more educated and worldly than in years gone by.
Dissenting opinions are more readily expressed, while women are becoming increasingly prominent, as can be
seen from their enrollment levels in the universities. The clergy may also offer cause for restraint, since the
Islamists do not hold sway over the Sunnis, nor can they control the Al-Azhar University, which is the oldest
and most respected Islamic educational institution in the world. The MB may have gained political power, but
they do not have the power to control or manipulate Islam without facing challenges from established religious
authorities.
The major problem Islamists face, however, is the economy. Debate over Sharia law will not stimulate
growth, and may instead hinder Egypts relationships with other countries. The Egyptian workforce will loudly
demand material improvements in their living conditions, and this will in turn require Egypt to present an
acceptable face to the global economy. If the Islamists emphasize Islamic values over economic growth, they
may find themselves rejected by the voters who have currently granted them a mandate.
Within Egypt, Israel retains its lack of popularity, while anti-western feelings have been markedly
rising. Islamists may receive a short term boost from these traditional threats, but they will increasingly find
themselves forced to play a responsible political role within the international community. Stirring the tensions
in the Arab-Israeli conflict may play well with voters initially, but wider changes within the Middle East may
have shifted the political playing field to the extent that the Israeli issue alone is insufficient to keep the
Islamists in power. The Middle East may in future be defined by its conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites. The
tensions related to the Sunni religious monarchy of Saudi Arabia and the Shiite theocracy in Iran are but two

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of a range of divisions across the Middle East and North Africa, and these issues continue to have a
malevolent effect upon the regions stability and potential for growth.
The Future of the Muslim Brotherhood
The evidence suggests that the surge to prominence of MB within Egypt was neither a freak
occurrence nor simply the manifestation of an angry revolt against the Mubarak dictatorship. Rather, the
movement reflects the desire of Egyptian Muslims to follow the traditions of Sunni Islam.. However, although
the MB continues to be a political force, it no longer has the significance it possessed prior to the overthrow
of Morsi. There will always be Muslims who dream of living in an Islamist state, but the opportunity for this to
become a reality will depend on whether the Islamists can maintain their appeal to the wider Egyptian society.
The MB leaders must therefore choose their path with care, while remaining aware that the current political
situation is not as receptive as that over twenty years ago, when the Islamists played a much stronger social
role. However, although the MB has struggled to find innovation and direction in its leadership, organization
and ideology, it has not faded politically as many suggested it might. Its organization remains strong, while it
has retained its popular support base in society. Since the MB has been welcomed into the political process
through elections, it now has the motivation to pursue power through democratic means, although it does face
stiff competition from other Islamist groups.
It is unlikely that the MB will ever achieve success wholly on its own terms, but their influence is
spreading through many parties throughout the Islamic world. Their teachings can be seen in Morocco, Libya,
Jordan and Tunisia, and they have played their own significant political role since the onset of the Arab Spring.

Recommendations
Modern Islamism can be expected to become a mixture of conservative values and technocratic
modernism if it is to thrive. Islamist groups cannot abandon the democratic process which they have
embraced because a significant proportion of their support base demands peace and stability. In countries
which face an uncertain political future, however, the Islamists must find a way to reconcile the desire to
impose an all-encompassing version of Islam with the need to govern countries in a fair and democratic
manner to provide economic growth and security to all citizens. The popular support of the Islamist parties will
erode very swiftly if they cannot deliver success on both of these very different fronts.
Achieving these goals in Egypt may require the MB to adopt a more pragmatic version of
conservatism to uphold Islamic values. One example of this might be a move to restrict alcohol in accordance
with the rules of Utah in the USA rather than Saudi Arabia. The promotion of family values and respect for
women may be a more acceptable conservative stance than the imposition of Sharia standards upon women.
Furthermore, it is unlikely that any single Islamist party will be able to govern unilaterally. They will therefore
instead be obliged to form coalitions, which will require a certain degree of compromise and flexibility. Indeed,
as Muslim countries continue on their democratic transition, Islamist parties have already shown signs of
relaxing their original aims, such as building Islamic states based on Sharia law. In Egypt, Tunisia and
Morocco, Islamist leaders have become more realistic in their goals, showing less concern about religious

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matters and instead focusing on the immediate problems of corruption, education, infrastructure and
economic growth.
Since the Arab Spring offered the promise of freedom across the Arab world, it will be difficult for any
authority to re-introduce limitations on human rights and personal freedoms. Young Arabs have seen what
might be achieved and will not accept a step backwards. Islamist governments will be obliged to respect the
rights of minorities, political pluralism, and the right to free speech and freedom of the press. Moreover, if
they are to be accepted by an increasingly educated populace, they will also be obliged to accept compromise
where some of their more extreme Islamic objectives are concerned.
Arab Spring uprising has an impacts on the political arena of Middle East and North African countries
in different outcomes. Along with the wave of Arab Spring and the idea of establishment Islamic state. Muslim
Brotherhood is the first mass organization to mobilize for an Islamic state, In subsequent decades, offshoots
of the Muslim Brotherhood have spread throughout the Arab world including the Hamas of Palestine and the
ISIS of Iraq. The situation in Iraq now which has the similar ideology with the Muslim Brotherhood, became the
significant issue for the international security, leading to the alerting of political Islam ideology among
international community.

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