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Abstract
This dissertation offers a historically grounded account of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (1928–2018). It situates the movement’s evolution within the broader transformations of Egyptian state and society, thereby departing from prevalent narratives that focus on radicalization versus moderation, or violence versus political participation. This thesis deconstructs the Brotherhood’s notion of an Islamic project and traces the transformation of the movement’s relationship to politics and authority, and how it compares to some Egyptian secular movements. The story of the Muslim Brotherhood in this thesis unfolds in two acts: the Classic Brotherhood (1928–1954) and its second incarnation (1970–2018). While most literature focuses on one or the other, this dissertation undertakes a structured comparison between both incarnations to establish lines of continuity and change. Inspired by historical sociology of politics, this study concludes that whereas the Brotherhood’s first incarnation was a product of the Kingdom of Egypt and its liberal state institutions (1923–1953), its successor was largely shaped by the Egyptian Republic and its securitized institutions (1953–2011). This dissertation draws on a diverse body of resources, including interviews, memoirs, official documents, newspaper archives, contemporary commentary, and academic literature.