The relentless rise of the Muslim Brotherhood has secured them a leading role in the unsettled and uncertain landscapes of Egypt, a country shaken by revolution and revolt. A decisive victory in the first post-Mubarak elections cemented their standing, but how have they reached this position of dominance? Mohammed Zahid's analysis of the Brothers' conflict-filled history and steadily expanding presence throughout Egyptian society lays the groundwork for their place in today's Egypt, and sheds light on the complex currents of Islamist politics and authoritarian rule that have coloured Egypt and the Arab world. Delving into the tangle of Egyptian politics from Nasser to Mubarak, the increasing pressures for reform amid mounting socio-economic crisis and the fractured processes of liberalisation, Zahid unpicks the troubled relationship between the Muslim Brotherhood and the state.