Muslim Brotherhood Ascends to Power in Egypt

Dr. Zakir Hussain1

I believe that the Muslim Brotherhood will transform and resort an all-

inclusive approach in its policies and structure. Already it has fought the

presidential election on the slogan of ‘inclusive growth and development’,

whereas Ahmed Shafiq, the army’s candidate, fought on stability and

maintaining law and order. Muslim Brotherhood will embrace all the

sections of the society and move ahead to restore and strengthen

democracy in the country. It needs the support of the masses to scuttle

the military which is not ready to hand over power. But in due course

military has to give way to the democratic forces. Now Egypt will not

look back, it will march ahead towards people-oriented political

structure. As evident from the movement, mostly the youth and liberal

educated masses launched the movement and they obviously do not want

hardliners in power. During the first presidential tenure these hardliners

may misguide the masses but ultimately the liberals and other sections

opposed to orthodoxy will not let them come to power. Seeing this,

Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm "Justice and Freedom Party" (JFP)

will further transform and include all sections of the Egyptian society in

its political fold. If I compare Muslim Brotherhood with the Indian

National Congress, the Freedom and Justice Party will try to transform

gradually. FJP will emerge as hydra-headed party, including all sections

and ideologies and try to balance the policies just as the Congress has

been doing in India.  

Regarding India, the FJP will love to have close and cordial relations with

India as both the countries are close allies since long. The friendship

1 Dr. Zakir Hussain, research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, Sarpu House. These are his personal views. He can be accessed: shahabzakir@gmail.com. Mobile: +91-7838608840

alliance in 1955, Nehru-Nasser friendship and NAM will once again serve

to build a close cooperation between India and Egypt. The Indian

democracy, which I characterize as the “democracy in the East”, is likely

to impart some experiences with the newly emerging democracy in North

Africa. A couple of delegations from Egypt have already visited India to

understand India’s multiethnic, multi-regional, multi-sectarian and multi-

religious constitutional set up. Trade, culture, tourism and entertainment

fields will witness a throbbing growth in the coming years between the

two countries. The recent visit of Indian foreign minister S M Krishna

was well received in Egypt; the visit clarified our position that India

wanted a better relationship with Egypt and Egypt also needs to build a

close and strong economic and strategic partnership with India.

However, at the external front we need to understand the unfolding

situation better. The relationship between Muslim Brotherhood and

Israel as well as with the US and the West may witness some

transformations. The Egyptian young generation is sympathetic to the

Palestinian cause as evident during the uprising and they may put

pressure for some positive development on this front. Israel will have to

be adjustable to the new reality. It has lost its two closest regional allies,

Turkey and Egypt, since the beginning of democratic uprisings in the

region.

However, relations with the US may not transform to that extent as was

be expected. The US has realised the nuances of the relations and

restored the financial aid to Egypt. However, the military may misuse

this front and take some anti-democratic policy-steps on the pretext of

perceived anti-West and anti-Israel stance of the Muslim Brotherhood.

But we have to look and understand Muslim Brotherhood in the new

circumstances. We should not view and interpret Muslim Brotherhood to

the definition of Mubarak-era, which officially had banned them but

practically tolerated to show to the West as a legitimate cause to remain

in power and counter the rising forces of Islamism in Egypt. In fact,

Muslim Brotherhood has transformed a lot since it started its movement

in 1928. It fought against colonial rule, Zionism and had rich political

experiences of eight decades. The party now includes not only the

Islamists but professionals such as doctors, management gurus,

technocrats and has successfully diversified its base over the period. Its

main task is to remain in power and by looking at the transformed social

milieu, it is not possible for any political party to be hardliner and

survive. Muslim Brotherhood is a shrewd, seasoned and practically

mature political party, hence will adjust and adept with the transforming

situation in the country. This is fine point of its survival and progress in

the coming months and years.

I believe that military will hand over power gradually to the democratic

forces in Egypt as political parties show maturity and confidence in

dealing with foreign relations, domestically dealing economic, social and

ethnic policies in the country. Military has large stake in the Egyptian

economy; it commands 30 percent of the economy; employs a lot of state

apparatus and would preferably like to preserve it. This will be one of the

contested areas between the military and democratic forces in future.

Over the period, as political parties show maturity in dealing with the

national and international issues, sections which at present are

supportive to the military regime or the erstwhile Mubarak regime will

thin away and mingle with democratic forces in the country. After all,

Military will not likely prefer to lose its benevolent face among the

masses. This is against the tradition of the Egyptian military. Had army

not supported the protestors, this movement would not have achieved its

purpose i.e. democracy in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood has to show a

degree of maturity and flexibility, only this will improve its relations with

military which is cautious to preserve its nexus with the West and the

US.

Although it is difficult to predict the timeline of the development of

democracy in Egypt, in the coming one year or so, army will start

trusting the political parties and possibly in a decade or two full

democratic culture will bloom in the ‘Land of Pharaohs’.