Abstract

Regarded as Egypt’s most influential oppositional force, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) was analysed from a Gramscian lens that projected it as a counterhegemonic force par excellence. Its all-sufficient Islam, cohesive organisational structure and ability to wage a war of position were considered to represent parallels to Gramsci’s revolutionary methodology. This article contests this narrative by focusing on the MB’s inability to deal with state coercion, its intellectual inertia and failure in governance, and its passive revolutionary and neoliberal tendencies. Against the backdrop of resurgent authoritarianism and the MB’s downfall, it has become imperative to rethink our dominant understandings of (counter)hegemony and resistance. The article concludes by arguing that the MB’s failure to fundamentally challenge the hegemonic order and instigate social change should not deter other movements from continuing to do so. Instead, lessons from the MB’s limitations must be heeded with Gramsci remaining key in aiding such endeavours.

Highlights

  • Between 2011 and 2013, Egypt witnessed the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) into power, and into intense debates surrounding its role in shaping Egypt’sCurrent Sociology 00(0)future

  • The MB’s all-sufficient Islam, its cohesive and disciplined organisational structure, and its ability to wage a war of position were used to argue that it represented a counterhegemonic force par excellence

  • On hegemony, were employed to analyse this conundrum (Manduchi, 2020a: 234; 2020b: 9–10), with some scholars even suggesting similarities between Gramsci’s revolutionary methodology and Islamist politics, that associated with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.3. This narrative includes a strand which views the MB as epitomising a counterhegemonic force par excellence due to its allsufficient Islam, cohesive organisational structure, and ability to wage a war of position

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Between 2011 and 2013, Egypt witnessed the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) into power, and into intense debates surrounding its role in shaping Egypt’sCurrent Sociology 00(0)future. The MB’s all-sufficient Islam, its cohesive and disciplined organisational structure, and its ability to wage a war of position were used to argue that it represented a counterhegemonic force par excellence.

Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call