A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Is the Brotherhood Retreating from Politics? Or is this a Journalism Meme?

It may be wishful thinking on the part of the regime, but a fair amount of commentary (not just domestic but international) on the election of new Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood General Guide Muhammad Badi‘ seems to be focusing on the idea that the MB is likely to retreat from political activism and concentrate on its social and educational functions under its new, conservative leader.

A few examples: a pre-official announcement version in Al-Ahram English (weekly); Al-Masry al-Youm English; the BBC; Abu Dhabi's The National; Al-Jazeera English; and Google will give you many more. Either we are looking at a more docetist, less politicized Brotherhood, or everyone got the same backgrounder somewhere from someone.

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