Karolyn Benger

Schools for Democracy?: Islamist and Secular Opposition Parties in Egypt Karolyn Benger

This book challenges the assumption that civil society and its organizations act as schools of democracy. It argues that civil society organizations should be examined for their internal behavior. This book studies six oppositional organizations in Egypt to determine their levels of democratic behavior. These groups include: The Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Wasat party, Tagammu, Wafd, Al-Ghad, and Karama. It examines groups across ideological, generational, legal, and Islamist and secular divides. It finds that while all organizations studied call for democracy they do not all behave democratically internally. This calls into question whether they will support democratic institutions.