Critical Analysis of Mohamed Morsi’s Speech (The First and the Last) in Light of Norman Fairclough-Halliday’s Theory

Abstract

 This research focuses on a critical issue afflicting most political discourses, including the discourse of the Muslim Brotherhood during Mohamed Morsi’s presidency after the group seized power. Notably, there were inconsistencies in the timing and structure of the dominant discourse, particularly at the level of the head of state throughout the controversial "foundational phase." This period stirred partisan, sectarian, and ideological biases, provoking sensitivities among various segments of society, rival forces, opposition groups, and intellectuals—those who sacrificed everything, including their lives and the lives of their children, to build a free and dignified life, aspiring for policies and governance rooted in democracy unshackled by narrow religious or secular priorities.

Accordingly, the study selected Egypt—specifically the period of the Brotherhood's ascension to the presidency with their representative Mohamed Morsi after the events of 2011—for a critical analysis based on the dialectic of bias and compromise. This was done through the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the Functional Grammar Theory, which posits that individuals use grammar in a motivated manner, with the type of motivation dependent on context and personal or ideological interests.

According to this critical framework, any written or spoken text is shaped on two levels:

1. The horizontal, grammatical level – where the structure of the text and the narration of political, social, syndical, and partisan events follow argumentative strategies intended to fulfill the needs of authoritarian power.


2. The vertical, ideological level – where the writer selects ideologically and intellectually charged vocabulary.

Given the constant dialectic between reality and language, the holder of power and will manipulates thoughts and events through various rhetorical strategies in interaction with textual transcendence, political events, and practices.

The study concludes that the Muslim Brotherhood lacked objective political experience to manage the affairs of the controversial foundational phase. Their attempt to "Brotherhoodize" the constitution and state institutions increased doubts about their legitimacy regarding constitutional governance during this sensitive period. Moreover, the group failed to provide any innovative solutions to improve living and economic conditions, eliminate corruption networks, or challenge the deep state—major causes of the January Revolution. Instead, the Brotherhood sought to lay a foundation for applying their interpretation of revolutionary demands through their specific reading of political Islam, framing everything as stemming from their efforts since the 1920s. This was clearly reflected in Mohamed Morsi's rhetoric.

All these factors contributed to the failure of the democratic experiment and the collapse of efforts by all political groups in Egypt, eventually leading to the return of military rule with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seizing power once again.