Abstract
The Muslim Brotherhood—in the Middle East and in the West—is highly contested. The group is marked by several contradictions that nurture deep skepticism amongst some but fascination amongst others. Regarding its political views some view the Brotherhood as extremist and anti-democratic while others view it as a force that may support democracy or democratic change. Regarding its religious outlook, some view the Brotherhood as outright fundamentalist while others view it as partly embracing modernist views. Organizationally, some view it as a deliberately secretive organization while others believe it is a modern social movement that is at times forced into secrecy due to repression. Regarding its role in Western societies some view the group as fostering separation while others view it as a force that may work towards integrating Muslim communities into western societies. Part of the confusion derives from the fact that the group often acts in secrecy and that data are scarce. This article analyzes the Brotherhood’s organizational structures, its strategies and ideology, internationally and in the West. It seeks to make sense of some of the confusion about the group and to contribute, against this backdrop, to the debate on the Brotherhood’s role in Western societies, and more specifically in Germany. The article builds on academic literature, Brotherhood documents and interviews conducted between 2004 and 2015 in Cairo, Istanbul and Tunis.
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Notes
- 1.
Interview with MB parliamentarian was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 2.
Interview with MB member was conducted in Cairo in 2004.
- 3.
Interview with then MB deputy supreme guide was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 4.
Interviews with expert Hussam Tammam was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 5.
In the West for example the MB according to Vidino tend to keep the members and the existence of the core groups secret (2020a). In the Middle East, some parts of the core groups’ organizational structure (but not all) may be visible. For example, the names of executive council members may be known while ordinary members and meetings as well as internal educational material are kept secret. Interview with MB guidance council member in Cairo (2010) and MB member in Cairo (2004).
- 6.
Interview with then MB guidance council member was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 7.
Interview with former MB minister was conducted in Istanbul in 2015.
- 8.
Exceptions are Hamas as well as certain trends within the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood after 2014 (e.g. Ranko and Nedza 2016).
- 9.
Scholars have often described the Brotherhood as a social movement that adapts its strategies to different local contexts (Wegner 2008). This article argues that it is only the visible arm of the Brotherhood that adapts to these contexts, but not necessarily the secretive arm.
- 10.
Interview with Gamal al-Banna was conducted in 2009.
- 11.
Interview with a leader of Ennahda and formerly leading figure within the international MB was conducted in Tunis in 2014. The interview with MB expert Hussam Tammam was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 12.
Sayyid Qutb was an MB leader and has been an influential MB thinker, but the group’s leadership has, in the 1970s, distanced itself from those elements within his thought that support violent action.
- 13.
Interview with the MB member was conducted in Cairo in 2004. The secrecy of the family meetings and of the cultivation program that is taught there was also confirmed by former MB member Ahmed Akkari (Vidino 2020a, p. 59 f.).
- 14.
Interview with a then guidance council member was conducted in Cairo, 2010.
- 15.
Interview with then member of the MB guidance council was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 16.
Interview with the MB member was conducted in Istanbul in 2015.
- 17.
This is confirmed by several interviews conducted with an MB member in Cairo in 2004.
- 18.
Interview with MB expert Hussam Tammam was conducted in Cairo in 2010.
- 19.
- 20.
For more on these three paragraphs see Ranko (2015, 184 ff.).
- 21.
E.g. see Hafez (2013) though he talks in this specific article about the US.
- 22.
For a detailed account of the German debate see Jacobs and Ranko (2021).
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Interviews
Gamal al-Banna, 2009, Cairo.
Hossam Tammam, 2010, Cairo.
International MB Leader, 2015, Tunis.
MB Member, 2004, Cairo.
MB Member, 2015, Istanbul.
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Ranko, A., Jacobs, A. (2022). Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East and in the West: Organization, Strategy, and Ideology. In: Ceylan, R., Kiefer, M. (eds) Der islamische Fundamentalismus im 21. Jahrhundert . Islam in der Gesellschaft. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-37486-0_6
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