In-depth
Political Islam in the Middle East
Having to hold the reins of power can act as a moderating force on Islamist parties, argues Reza Aslan in the Council on Foreign Relations.
…I think what these Islamists are starting to learn, across the region, is that you can't maintain your incorruptible image while also having political power. That power tends to corrupt. Now in Egypt, we're seeing even former supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood demanding the downfall of Mohammed Morsi's presidency.
Ashraf Khalil of Time asks whether the hasty steps taken by the Egyptian president to quell protests over his power grab will be enough.
But even if [the constitution] does pass, the lingering bitterness and mistrust born of this controversy could come back to haunt the Brotherhood at Parliamentary elections–which will gear up once there’s a constitution in place. Morsi has reverted to his base and his Islamist allies in this time of crisis. But he has also managed to alienate some of his own voters. Many of those protesting against Morsi and calling for his downfall said they voted for him over the summer–viewing him as the lesser of two evils compared to Mubarak holdover and military candidate Ahmed Shafiq.
Daily Digest
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