Bloggers and Believers: Dynamics of Activism and Identity in the Muslim Brotherhood

Abstract

Just as cyberactivists sought to upend Egypt’s political status quote, Muslim Brotherhood (MB) cyberactivists used blogs and social media networks to seek political reform within the organization. Radsch shows how the emergence of rank-and-file MB members in cyberspace followed similar patterns as the broader Egyptian blogosphere and argues that the cross-ideological solidarity that developed between different groups of cyberactivists was a key factor in their impact. MB bloggers, both men and women, challenged not only the authority of the state but also of the MB leadership and Islamic spiritual guides by invoking their right to interpret Islam, translate Islamic tenets into the vernacular, and speak as a Muslim. “Bloggers and Believers” explores how these young activists made choices about identification, anonymity, and confrontation with the organization’s leaders that not only turned them into leaders and revolutionaries, but also put them in a precarious position.