Visiting Speaker - Dr Khalil al-Anani, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt since 1981 and unpacks the principal factors that shape the Brotherhood’s identity, organisation and activism, investigating the processes of socialisation, indoctrination, recruitment, identification, networking and mobilisation utilised by the movement. Prof al-Anani argues that the Brotherhood is not merely a political actor seeking power but also an identity maker that aims to change societal values, norms and morals to line up with its ideology and worldview. The author attributes the Brotherhood’s longevity to its tight-knit structure coupled with a complex membership system that has helped them resist regime penetration. The book also explores the divisions and differences within the movement and how these affect its strategy and decisions. The culmination of over a decade of research and interviews with leaders and members of the movement, this book challenges the dominant narratives about Islamists and Islamism as a whole.