The Rise of the Islamists

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Across the Arab world, Islamists are the new political power brokers. In elections in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, Islamists won big. Similar results are expected in Libya, and if the Assad regime falls, they might well emerge on top in Syria too. After decades of repression by secular rulers, Islamists are now poised to transform the region's politics and culture. But it's still not clear what they plan to do with their power, and what that will mean for those who don’t share their views. 

Executive Producer: Aaron Lobel / Produced by: Monica Bushman, Joseph Braude, David Enders, Julia Simon, and Flawn Williams / Web Producers: Javier Barrera and Sam Lavine / Photo: Imrane Binoual, Zeinab Mohamed, Freedom House / Host: Katherine Lanpher / Airdate: March 2012

+ Egypt And Islamist Financial Networks

Julia Simon examines the sources of funding behind the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Al-Nour party, who now hold more than two thirds of parliamentary seats in Egypt.

+ Saudi Liberals

Joseph Braude speaks with Nasser al-Sarami, senior executive at the Saudi-backed Al Arabiya News Channel, about the growing appeal of liberalism among Saudi youth.

Story Transcript: Saudi Liberals.pdf

+ Field Report From Wadi Khaled, Lebanon

David Enders speaks with Imad Khalid, an imam in Northern Lebanon who works with Syrian refugees, about what role Islamists might play in a new Syria.

+ Syria's Political Future

Joseph Braude speaks with Elie Fawaz, a Lebanese political analyst with the Beirut office of the Lebanon Renaissance Foundation, about whether the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamist parties will dominate politics in a post-Assad Syria.

Story Transcript: Syria’s Political Future.pdf

+ History Of Islamist Movements

Joseph Braude traces the history of Islamist movements from the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 1928 to today.

+ Islamist Parties And The US

Katherine Lanpher speaks with Shadi Hamid, Director of Research at the Brookings Doha Center, and Robert Satloff, Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about whether and how the U.S. should engage with Islamists.

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