There’s More To Opposition Life Than The Brotherhood And El Baradei

Posted by Nishat Kurwa on February 1, 2011

Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The most prominent players in the Egyptian opposition that we’re hearing about in the Western media are the Muslim Brotherhood and Nobel Laureate Mohammed El Baradei, who’s heading the newly formed Egyptian Association for Change. Of course, there are also secular opposition groups, and other organized constituencies who have been part of the movement for change…although, as we’ve heard again and again, it’s a movement of the people that’s swept Egypt.

Below, a list from Mohammad Talat, a professor of engineering at Cairo University, of some of the main opposition parties and forces in Egypt. (His wife, Yasmeen Deifallah, is a UC Berkeley PhD student studying political science. She’ll be speaking at the “Anatomy of Politics and Collective Action in Arab and Muslim Communities” teach-in this afternoon at San Francisco State University, put on by the The Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative).

Of the groups he listed, Talat said, “How they can capitalize on this political opportunity, let alone realize its potential, remains to be seen. I have not seen them in action for long enough to judge how keen of a political sense they possess. They are good at flashy action and coordinated mass-events, but this is different from political negotiations.”

Egyptian Opposition Groups

1. Al-Wafd: liberal

2. Al-Tagammu: Leftist

The Al-Wafd and Al-Tagammu are old, established parties. They have the distinction of being the only parties currently who have representation in parliament. So if parliament continues and doesn’t get dissolved, they may have a bargaining chip. But other than this, their credibility and street presence have been diminished over the years.

They may still have an area or two were they have strongholds. I cannot predict how much “blame” people will assign to them and, therefore, how much room they will have to maneuver.

3. AL-Nassery: Nasserist

Al-Nassery, I have little feel for how much street power and presence it represents. I recall there was a leadership fight in it which hadn’t been resolved until recently, so I expect that they will be at a disadvantage and internal disarray.

4. AL-’Amal: Labor-Islamist

The Al-’Amal is largely marginalized now through regime action which effectively dismantled it and jailed its leaders. Its leader escaped prison in one of the prison breaks that took place and is now back on the streets. They are not short of popularity but the fact that they have been “out of order” for so long makes it to be seen if they will be able to regroup fast enough and find a place at the table.

5. Al-Ghad: liberal (split from Al-Wafd, headed by Ayman Nour)

6. Al-Karaamah: Nasserist, Pan-Arabist (split from Al-Nassery, headed by Hamderin Sabbahy)

I believe that the Al-Ghad and the Al-Karaamah parties, as parties, have no significant presence but that their respective leaders have strong presence and following. They may be able as individuals to leverage the fact that they represent “parties” and get some of their demands in, and in the process get into the picture of the post-Mubarak regime – as cabinet ministers or officials in positions that will appease their supporters.

7. 6 April: A pro-reform youth movement

6 April, no one can tell you how much their power is. Given that a lot of credit for the uprising will be attributed to youth, no political force can be seen to dismiss them and to disrespect the youth even if they themselves may not have been the ones who instigated the uprising.

How they can capitalize on this political opportunity, let alone realize its potential, remains to be seen. I have not seen them in action for long enough to judge how keen of a political sense they possess. They are good at flashy action and coordinated mass-events, but this is different from political negotiations.

8. Kefaya: An umbrella anti-Mubarak coalition (mostly dissolved now)

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