In an article posted on Al-Ahram Online, Egyptian writer Amany Maged presents his view of the relationship between the Ennahda party of Tunisia and its leader Rachid Ghannouchi to the Global Muslim Brotherhood:
Al-Nahda Party’s articles of association do not declare a link to the Muslim Brotherhood, but nor has it denied the connection. Some sources maintain that it was ideologically and organisationally inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, whereas others say that while Ghannouchi considers the Muslim Brotherhood an ally, he does not see it as having any authority, be it hierarchical or moral, over his own movement. Yet the fact remains that Ghannouchi, Al-Nahda’s founder, is a member of the International Guidance Bureau of the Muslim Brotherhood.Al-Nahda shares a number of traits with the Muslim Brotherhood. Both, says Islamist expert Ali Abdel-Aal, have a strong organisational capacity and access to substantial funds.
We believe that this analysis fits perfectly within the conception of the Global Muslim Brotherhood as developed by the GMBDW. As it says in the GMBDW faq:
Leaders in self-identified Muslim Brotherhood organizations have themselves said publicly that the Muslim Brotherhood exists, by its own admission, in more than 70 countries around the world and shares the “same ideology, principles and objective” from country to country. However, as we discussed in a post on the subject, most Brotherhood organizations outside of Egypt do not acknowledge their affiliations (Hamas, in Article Two of its Charter, is an example of an exception, acknowledging the group’s organic link to the Brotherhood), thus requiring researchers to make this identification themselves. We use the term “Global Muslim Brotherhood” as a shorthand to refer to this global network, which in fact is a closed group of people who work together on closely connected organizations, with interlocking directorships, around the world. A close examination of our work validates this practical approach.
We have also frequently written the following about the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood:
It should be noted that the Muslim Brotherhood today has become a global network and that the Egyptian mother branch is not necessarily the most important part of the movement. Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi, close to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, is often referred to by the GMBDW as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide.
For more background on Mr. Ghannouchi go here.