4 - The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and Violence

Summary

This chapter charts the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood’s relationship to violence, noting that while contemplation of violence played little role in the Brotherhood’s official ideology or amongst its senior members, there was significant diversity within the group’s base. It argues that the confluence of political events and membership changes saw parts of Brotherhood take on violence as a tactic, even though official platforms never wavered. Although this period of violence was relatively short-lived, the Brotherhood did not escape the experience unscathed – it was forced to evolve as an organisation, and acquired deep scars that continued to impact the group after 2011.