Even though there is no simple causal relationship between the lack of democracy and political extremism, it has been argued that institutional exclusion from the political process and indiscriminate repression make extremist groups inclined to adopt revolutionary1 or even worse terrorist methods. Conversely, political participation (even in semi-democratic autocracies) encourages radical groups to pursue their objectives through peaceful means. Political pluralism, albeit in a limited form, can induce radical and even anti-systemic parties to moderate their political discourses.2
This paper analyses how and to what extent the processes of exclusion and/or inclusion policies of the regimes, general framework of political and legal structures, politico-legal constraints and opportunities in Turkey and Egypt have influenced the transformation and moderation of Islamisms toward a pluralist discourse in these two countries. Instead of focusing only on the Islamist discourse, the interaction of discourse, context, structure and practice will be examined.3