Raphaël Lefèvre
{
"authors": [
"Raphaël Lefèvre"
],
"type": "other",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
"programAffiliation": "MEP",
"programs": [
"Middle East"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Levant",
"Lebanon",
"Syria",
"Middle East"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform",
"Security"
]
}Source: Getty
The Muslim Brotherhood's Role in Syria
The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood had been in exile for a long time, so it had to work very hard to gain a measure of influence on the Syrian uprisings.
Source: Project on Middle East Political Science
Speaking with George Washington University’s Marc Lynch, director of the Project on Middle East Political Science, Carnegie’s Raphaël Lefèvre discussed the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, the Syrian civil war, and Lebanon. When asked about the role the Muslim Brotherhood played in the Syrian uprising, Lefèvre explained that the group had been in exile for a long time, so it had to work very hard to gain a measure of influence on the Syrian uprisings.
It did so through various different ways, continued Lefèvre: “At first, it took a leading role in the Syrian opposition—first the Syrian National Council and then the National Coalition. It tried to do some work on-the-ground inside Syria in rebel-held areas, doing some humanitarian work. It started a series of militias as well, trying to gain influence on the Syrian rebel scene, but that was, unfortunately for them, very unsuccessful because at that point in time...the extremists in Syria were on the rise and posed a serious challenge to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.”
This interview was originally published by the Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS).
About the Author
Former Nonresident Scholar, Middle East Center
Raphaël Lefèvre was a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his research focuses on Sunni Islamist movements in Lebanon.
- The Sociopolitical Undercurrent of Lebanon’s Salafi MilitancyPaper
- Man of the Moment?Commentary
Raphaël Lefèvre
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
- Lebanon Needs a New Negotiating Strategy with IsraelCommentary
Unless Beirut lowers expectations, any setbacks will end up bolstering Hezbollah’s narrative.
Mohanad Hage Ali
- Lake Qaraoun and Migratory PressuresCommentary
Lebanon’s largest water reservoir is a house of many mansions when it comes to converging failures.
Camille Ammoun
- Afro-Iraqis, Climate Change, and Environmental Injustice in BasraArticle
Afro-Iraqis experience political, economic, and social marginalization and discrimination, which exposes the poorest members of the community to the harsh realities of the region’s climate disaster.
Zeinab Shuker
- Realism and the Lebanon-Israel TalksCommentary
Beirut’s desire to break free from Iranian hegemony may push it into a situation where it has to accept Israel’s hegemony.
Michael Young
- The United States and Iran Have Agreed to a Two-Week CeasefireCommentary
Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.
Michael Young