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How did the Muslim Brotherhood grow from a social movement into a political force?
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Muslim Brotherhood
Hassan al-Banna, a schoolteacher in Ismailia, Egypt, founded the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 as an attempt to modernize Islamic society.
The Muslim Brotherhood originated in 1928 as a religious and educational movement founded by Hassan al-Banna in Ismailia, Egypt. Its transition into a political force occurred through several key phases:12
- Early Growth and Politicization: During the 1930s, the organization expanded rapidly by providing essential social services. By the late 1930s, it began to adopt a more political outlook, positioning itself as an opponent of the ruling Wafd party and organizing protests against the government during World War II.32
- Militancy and Suppression: In the 1940s, an armed branch emerged, leading to violent acts and political assassinations. Following the 1952 revolution, the group faced severe state suppression, including executions and imprisonment of its leaders.3
- Resurgence: In the 1980s, the Brotherhood experienced a renewal as part of a broader regional religious upsurge. It began competing in legislative elections in countries like Egypt and Jordan, often running candidates as independents to bypass formal bans, eventually becoming a significant opposition bloc in the Egyptian parliament by the 2000s.4