Navigating Sectarianism:The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the International Relations of the Middle East

Collective identity scholarship rarely explains why some groups reject divisive identities and instead align with larger collective identities. Using the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and their rejection of sectarianism as a representative case study, the article examines why social movements choose to adhere to larger collective identities, even when their environment encourages adopting divisive identities. Tracing the Brotherhood’s collective identity, the article advances an ideational explanation that shows how two enduring identity elements—the constitutive norm of Islamic inclusivity and the social purpose of resisting imperialism and authoritarianism—generated master frames that consistently led the group to reject sectarian divides. This identity construction both enabled and constrained the movement’s political choices, shaping its stance on sectarianism during waves of regional sectarian tensions. This article presents a theoretical and empirical vantage point for understanding how collective identity framing define groups’ behaviour toward regional issues in the Middle East.