Book details

The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the oldest and most controversial Islamist movements to have emerged out of the Middle East. Cloaked in secrecy since its inception in 1928, it has presented a conundrum to many in the Middle East and the West who are highly suspicious of the movement and its goals. Drawing on interviews with key members of the Brotherhood, Alison Pargeter sheds light on the evolution of the movement and assesses the aims and strategies it has employed both in the Middle East and in Europe. The Brotherhood's relationship to violence and to the state, its attitudes towards democracy and the West, and the development of a more reformist discourse among some parts of the movement are also explored. Meticulously researched and authoritative, this study is the first to offer a perspective on the Brotherhood as a transnational movement and to analyse the evolving policy debates about the merits of engaging with the Brotherhood in the post 9/11 world.  Alison Pargeter has established a reputation as one of the best current analysts of Islamic radicalism. This book Â- detailed, authoritative, sober, perceptive and meticulously researched Â- shows why. It is an important contribution to our understanding both of the Muslim Brotherhood itself, to the controversies that surround the movement and to the broader phenomenon of political Islam. A must read for scholars, students and anyone interested in the Middle East.' Jason Burke, author of Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam  A tour de force  This well-written and much-needed book by a respected British scholar admirably traces the origins and development, internal debates and frictions, geographical spread Â- and abiding contradictions Â- of a movement that, despite its ambiguities and shortcomings, remains very much a force to be reckoned with.' Alan George, University of Oxford  Alison Pargeter's engaging and intelligent book makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on the Muslim Brotherhood. Her use of new sources, including interviews with key members of the Brotherhood, gives us a fresh perspective on this elusive movement, notably its shadowy international organization and the relations between its various branches. This is a welcome and highly readable addition to the growing body of work on the political Islamist movements that have shaped the contemporary Islamic world and beyond.' Karin von Hippel, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington