Islam and democracy

One of the great questions in the Middle East has been whether Islamism—the belief that Islam should guide social and political life—is compatible with a pluralistic democracy. Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood answered that question in Egypt with a resounding no. After being elected president in 2012, Morsi invoked emergency powers to pursue his agenda, rammed through a constitution and sidestepped democratic processes. Along the way, he did nothing to address Egypt’s social and economic problems or allay fears that he would impose a radical Islamist agenda.

Christians were among the many Egyptians who last month celebrated Morsi’s ouster at the hands of the military. Morsi’s rule had emboldened attacks on Christians over the past year. Christian institutions suffered yet again in the aftermath of Morsi’s fall, serving as convenient scapegoats for his outraged supporters. Scores of churches were looted and burned. No wonder Christians, who constitute a small minority of the population, see army general Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as their protector and the restorer of order.

Almost three years after a massive popular uprising overthrew Hosni Mubarak, a brutal military-backed dictator who persecuted his opponents and violated human rights, Egyptians find themselves again ruled by a brutal military dictator who persecutes his opponents and violates human rights. The revolution has come full circle. The prospects for genuine democracy in Egypt are more remote than ever. The liberals are severely weakened. The leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups—if they escape jail—are likely being radicalized by the military crackdown and less inclined than ever to seek power by democratic means.