Contemporary Muslim and Arab governments in theory and practice

Abstract EN

This paper examines the spectrum of Islamic perspectives on contemporary Arab and Muslim governments, especially in view of Arab Spring.

These governmental systems, which took shape from the early eighteenth century up to the mid-1950s, were beset by significant socio-political changes that are currently unfolding.

Whenever the political structure changed, it usually changed via a coup d'etat or an overthrow by another ideological faction? Recent events have introduced a new phase: change from the bottom up, represented by popular resistance to usually undemocratic regimes.

I present, critically analyze, and then incorporate the classical discussion and debate held by prominent contemporary thinkers and scholars on the form of government, Islamic or secular, to replace current regimes.

The debate regarding the form of government remains to be finalized; the ongoing debate is still on the heart of modern scholars, and thinkers up to this point, such as the case of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen.