The Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait: 1941–1991 (Contemporary Gulf Studies)

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is the most influential, organized, social, and political movement in Kuwait. With the succession in Kuwait, the role of the organisation become more interesting for people interested in Kuwait and Gulf domestic politics as well as those interested in the MB and Political Islam. This book traces the emergence and development of MB while considering the political and social development of Kuwait that led to its appeal. It explains the evolution of MB’s organisational structure and how it adapted itself during different periods in Kuwait’s history through the Social Movement Theory. It describes MB policies and strategies during challenging times. It traces the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the MB and focuses on its development and its mobilisation strategy. It is certainly one of the first focused studies on MB from its conception in 1941 up to 1991. Preface Contents Notes on Transliteration Abbreviations 1 Introduction Overview Research Framework The Context Theory of Domains Theoretical Framework and Outline of the Study Primary Sources 2 The Beginnings of Reformist Movement in Kuwait and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab World Introduction Reformist Ideas Enter Kuwait Reformists and the Social Domain Reforming the Educational System The Cultural Reaction to the Missionaries Presence in Kuwait Establishing the Al-Jamʿiyyah Al-Khairiyyah Al-ʿArabiyyah [Arab Charity Society] in 1913 Islamists and Social Reforms Islamist Reformists and Their Opponents Reformists and the Political Domain The Beginnings of Political Opposition and the Role of the Islamists The Political Role of Muhammad Al-Shanqiti and Hafiz Wahba The Ruling Family and the Reformists Islamists and Socio-Political Reform After Shaikh Mubarak The National Bloc The First Legislative Council 1938 The Second Legislative Council 1939 The 1940s The Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab World Conclusion 3 Organisational Structure of the Movement in Kuwait Introduction The Muslim Brotherhood Ideology Enters Kuwait The Beginnings of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jamʿiyyat al-Irshad al-Islami in 1952 Organisational Activities Organisational Structure of the First Organisation The Decline The Dispersal of the Muslim Brotherhood The Arrival of ʿAbdulwahid Aman to Kuwait in 1957 and Attempts to Revive the Islamist Movement The New Organisation in 1968 The Iraqi Experience and Influence The Foundations of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood Movement The Establishment of the Movement on the Philosophy of the Iraqi School in 1968 The Mechanism of Mobilisation Muhammad Ahmed al-Rashid and the Intellectual Formation of the Movement The Challenges Faced by the Muslim Brotherhood Shifting to a More Open Era The Muslim Brotherhood and the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait The Post-invasion Era Conclusion 4 Social Activism Introduction The Muslim Brotherhood: A Continuation of Religious Establishment and Heirs to the Islamist Project The Muslim Brotherhood and Social Movement Theory Intellectual and Educational Activities of Al-Irshad, 1952–1958 Youth and Students Activities Al-Irshad and Providing Social and Charitable Services The Impact of Oil on Changing Kuwaiti Society Forming the Social Reform Society (Al-Islah) in 1963 and the New Organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1968 as a Cultural Reaction to the Loss of the Social Domain Al-Islah and Banning Alcohol in 1964 The New Muslim Brotherhood Organisation and the Battle of Mixed-Gender Education The Islamist-Secularist Conflict Over the Islamic Economic System and Usury Consumer Deposits in the Kuwait Finance House, 1978–2001 The Rise in Popularity in the 1980s and the Competition Between Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood over the Social Domain The Spread of Islamic Charitable Work Competing with Salafis Over the Social Domain The Iraqi Invasion 1990–91 and the Social Domain Conclusion 5 Muslim Brotherhood and Politics Introduction Historical Background Political Activities of al-Irshad The Relationship of al-Irshad with Other Social and Political Constituents Al-Islah in the Political Domain The 1968 Organisation and Politics Islamising Kuwait University and Teachers’ Association The Battle Over the Constitution and Legislations The Relationship with the Government The Muslim Brotherhood During the Iraqi Invasion The Jeddah Conference The Liberation and the Establishment of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) Post-Liberation Islamists’ Issues in Parliament Political Opposition Within the Movement Conclusion 6 Conclusion Appendix A: Petition Addressed to ʿAbdulʿaziz al-Ali al-Mutawwaʿ by the Members of al-Irshad Appendix B: Report of the Fact-Finding Committee on the Events Surrounding the Symposium on Mixed-Gender Education at the University of Kuwait Appendix C: Proposal for Amending Article 2 of the Constitution of Kuwait Bibliography Index