Islamism, the Brotherhood and Egypt

February 5, 2011 at 11:57 am (Egypt, Guardian, islamism, Jim D, Middle East, socialism, workers)

Much of the debate on Egypt in the mainstream media in the West has concentrated on the role of Islamism and – specifically, the Muslim Brotherhood. Interestingly, most of the British far-left has had little to say on this subject, beyond noting that the Brotherhood is a bourgeois force (which it undoubtably is, of course).

The conclusion drawn in today’s Graun editorial is that The Brotherhood is not a force worth worrying about too much,  precisely because of its ‘conservatism’ and apparently unsure reaction to the revolt.

A few days before (3rd February), the Graun‘s associate editor and resident Stalinist posh-by Seamas Milne made a similar point, but from a more explicitly pro-Islamist stance (Milne has long championed Islamism as a ‘progressive’ force in the pages of the Graun):

“The threat of the Islamist bogeyman will no longer wash. In Tunisia, Ghannouchi’s Nahda (Renaissance) party is now in alliance with liberals and socialists around a platform of pluralist democracy, gender equality, freedom of conscience and social justice. In Egypt, the more conservative Muslim Brotherhood, working with the whole range of opposition forces, has long been committed to competitive elections and will be an important part of any genuinely independent, democratic Egypt.”

In the present issue of the New Statesman, Maajid Nawaz of Quilliam and himself a former Islamist, argues that a “takeover” by the Brotherhood is unlikely. But – unlike Milne – he also recognises that concerns about the Brotherhood are “legitimate” :

“There are legitimate concerns that the Brotherhood, Egypt’s most organised political opposition, could eventually hijack the uprising. The Brotherhood is an evolving organisation, but it has yet to ditch some of its more archaic principles, such as the view that only a Muslim male may become head of state. Its most recent internal elections led to defeat for reformers such as Abul-Fotouh.

“Yet a takeover by the Brotherhood is not only undesirable but also unlikely. Its leadership will know how unpopular a takeover attempt would make them. The Brotherhood also lacks a unifying figurehead to compete with the likes of Mohamed ElBaradei, Ayman Nour or Amr Moussa, the former leader of the Arab League. What we are witnessing is a new kind of uprising. The young people driving this revolution have no time for old Egypt, steeped in colonial dichotomies and run by octogenarian leaders such as Mubarak and the Brotherhood’s Badi.”

Let’s hope that Nawaz is right about that. But Martin Thomas of Workers Liberty, warns of the danger of  a democratic uprising being “confiscated” by reactionary forces to produce something the rebels never intended:

“Workers, especially when lacking previously stable political organisation, can be swept along into Islamist, Stalinist, or even fascist movements. Democracy, workers’ rights,  politically-independent organisation of the working class [are all essential for a successful working class democratic revolution – JD].

“According to reports so far, the Muslim Brotherhood has played little role in the upheavals in Egypt, and the Ennahda Islamists have been marginal inn Tunisia.

“They may yet be a threat. They have established cadres and organisation; funds, prestigious associations (the success of Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc); and the ability to appeal to potent and centuries-old religiouis feeling.

“In 1989 the great plebian movements against the old order in Eastern Europe were nor led by Thatcherites. Their political sentiments were closer to social democracy or a generous liberalism.

“But because the workers were not able to establish independent political movements of sufficient strength, and the Thatcherites had cadres in place, they dominated the outcome.

“Islamism, as it showed in Iran in 1978-9, can confiscate a mass plebian movement, fuelled by democratic aspirations, to the benefit of fascist-like counter-revolution.

“Neither overawed by the Islamist threat, nor complacent about it, socialists across the world should do all we can to assist the emergence and triumph of politically independent workers’ movements in the Arab world.”

(From the present issue of  ‘Solidarity & Workers Liberty’)

NB: further useful analysis (by Clive Bradley) on the Workers Liberty website is here ; a good overview of recent developments and what the left has been saying, from Our Man In Brockley here.