Author: Abdullah Al-Arian
Affiliation: Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, Doha, Qatar.
Organization/Publisher: Middle East Eye
Date/Place: December 25, 2020/U.K.
Type of Literature: Analysis
Word Count: 3,300
Link:https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/arab-spring-end-political-islam-as-we-know-it
Keywords: Arab Spring, Tunisia, Ennahda Party, Rached Ghannouchi, France, Coup, Autocracy
Brief:
This article triggers an important debate on the feasibility of an Islamic Movement – whether power is a means to achieve its goal or the power itself is an end. Its basis is the surprising comments made by Ennahda Party Chair Rached Ghannouchi in meeting with the French ambassador in Tunisia, telling the latter that “domestic developments within France would not impact Tunisian-French relations, declaring without hesitation our solidarity with the French state and the brotherly French people.” The statement came amid France’s neo-colonial war against Muslims and Islam, when the French state wants to establish its own version of Islam. The author analyzes the internal crisis of various Islamic movements in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia tracing back the genesis of the emergence of popular Islamic activism in the 20th-century. However, the author argues the traditional mission that defined “Islamic activism for much of the past half century is no more,” rather Islamic activists increasingly “adopted political platforms” that sought inclusion within institutions of state power. Detailing two paths that the Islamic Movements adopted, the author says the “path of da’wa remained relatively constant.” “The other path resulted from the Islamic movement’s recognition that public advocacy and institution-building alone were insufficient in promoting its vision for society,” he notes. With reference to Ennahda and the Muslim Brotherhood (in its short period in government), the author points out the tendency of Islamists who rise to government but then avoid angering the invisible establishment, which later results in opening publicly the crevasses within the rank and file of the cadre over basic idealistic Islamic goals. That is how, the author argues, Ennahda and Morocco’s Party of Justice and Development have put “forward a blueprint for Islamist parties to achieve political success.” However, not all have survived in the government and there is a debate among the leadership in the Muslim Brotherhood to reconcile with the respective governments; but the movement is also facing dissension within its ranks which advocates a revolutionary path that would correct the mistakes of the post-Mubarak transition.
By: Riyaz ul Khaliq, Non-Resident CIGA Research Associate
