Publication

This paper discusses the Al-Nour party, the last fully tolerated Islamist party with an illiberal and anti-democratic agenda in Egypt. The author argues that Al-Nour's flexibility and opportunism - as demonstrated by its support of the military coup in 2013 - dealt a damaging blow to the party's popularity with Islamists. Its electoral defeat, however, may not be ideal for democracy in Egypt as it will lead to reduced political representation and pluralism in the political system.