Over the past couple of years, the movements affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood have been witnessing a deep debate over both their structure and vision. In Tunisia, Ennahda took a post-Islamist turn following the separation of its political and religious activities during its general assembly in 2016. In Egypt as well, the Muslim Brotherhood has been witnessing a debate over its organisational structure and its strategy vis-a-vis the authoritarian regime. However, while in Tunisia the evolution of Ennahda is taking place within a pluralistic and peaceful debate, the transformation in Egypt took an aggressive turn, with diverse groups disputing over the leadership of the Islamist movement.
Movements affiliated to Muslim Brotherhood are at a critical moment in their history. In Egypt, the military intervention against the rule of the Brotherhood in July 2013 led large segments of the Islamic grassroots to lose confidence in peaceful political action as a means for change. While some of them left politics altogether, others chose to join the Salafi-jihadi movement with the aim of building an Islamic state by force. In Tunisia too, many Islamists accuse Ennahdha of betraying the Islamic project, which several generations of militants scarified their lives for.

This workshop aims to present the challenges facing the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Ennahda in Tunisia. The conference will explore the different reactions that these organisations have towards these challenges and how such reactions might shape these movements, their countries, and most probably the region as a whole.