Strategies of electoral participation by Islamic movements: The Muslim Brotherhood and parliamentary elections in Egypt and Jordan, November 2010

Most scholarly and public perceptions and analyses of political Islam are beset by prejudice and misunderstandings. Political Islam movements are presented as irrational and obstinate, stubbornly refusing to change despite the circumstances with rigid beliefs and political tactics with an anti-democratic orientation. This article argues that the relationship between political Islam and democracy as a whole, and its participation in the political process in the modern state, are expressions of the unique situation of each Islamic political movement and its leaders. Islamic political movements actually take a wide range of positions on democracy and have diverse approaches to participation in elections. This stems from their unique relationship with the regime and the state.