The ballot box can moderate Islamists

This view fails to appreciate the ideological struggle currently unfolding within the Brotherhood.

The organization certainly contains radical Islamic elements. However, it also contains moderate thinkers and activists who are well organized and articulate. These two camps compete to define the ideological character and goals of the organization. In order to avoid a divisive clash between these camps, the Brotherhood's leadership has carefully refrained from adopting a position on many contentious policy issues. This means that the Brotherhood's political agenda is unclear.

Critics point to this lack of clarity as evidence that the Brotherhood is duplicitous and cannot be trusted. However, if this lack of clarity reflects genuine internal divisions, it creates an opportunity for Egyptians and outsiders to shape the development of the Brotherhood's ideology.

How can the moderates be strengthened in this internal debate?

One possibility is to create a path to power that rewards moderation.

The Egyptian government can play an important role in this process by enforcing laws that keep public debate within democratic and inclusive boundaries. This would entail, particularly, the clear and consistent enforcement of laws that protect the rights of non-Muslims and women. Egypt's existing laws prohibit statements and actions that incite sectarian strife. They also protect the rights of women at school, in the workplace, and at home. However, these laws are enforced inconsistently.

Some radical Islamists have incited violence against the Copts and faced little or no punishment. Others have undertaken extensive campaigns to limit the rights of women to education and careers. Enforcing prohibitions on these types of speech and action would constitute an infringement on freedom, but even established democracies - including the US - accept that public order and safety sometimes require limiting personal liberties. In the Egyptian case, these restrictions would force all factions of the Brotherhood to play the political game according to democratic rules of equality and tolerance. It would make clear that the price of admission to the political marketplace is the development of a moderate and inclusive ideology.

With these boundaries to political action and debate in place, the Brotherhood should be permitted to compete in free and fair elections at both the local and national level.

If the recent parliamentary elections are any indication, the resulting electoral contests will focus on how to provide good services and responsive government to citizens. These contests will, themselves, shape the Brotherhood's ideology in a direction that internalizes and promotes moderation.

• Bruce Rutherford teaches political science at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. He is completing a book titled, "Taming Autocracy: Constitutionalism and Democracy in Egypt."

Page: 1 | 2