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Devout Neoliberalism?! Explaining Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood's Socio-economic Perspective and Policies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2020

Khalil al-Anani Open the ORCID record for Khalil al-Anani [Opens in a new window]
Khalil al-Anani*
Affiliation:
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Khalil al-Anani, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Doha, Qatar. E-mail: khalil.alanani@dohainstitute.edu.qa
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Abstract

How can we explain the neoliberal orientation of Islamist movements in the Middle East? This paper attempts to answer this question by exploring the case of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. It analyzes in depth the Brotherhood's socio-economic vision and policies when it was in power between 2012 and 2013. It argues that the Brotherhood adopted a market-oriented vision, which encouraged the private sector, liberalized the economy, and appealed to foreign investments. As a socio-political movement, the Brotherhood attempted to strike a balance between its constituency, which is rooted in the lower, middle, and upper-middle classes, and its commitment to neoliberal policies. However, this paradoxical balance burdened the movement and affected its popularity. The article also contends that the Brotherhood's neoliberal leanings can be explained by three key factors: the movement's pragmatism, its “devout” bourgeoisie, and the appeal for international acceptance and recognition.

Type
Article
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 748 - 767
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2020

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