ROOTED REVIVAL OF THE PUBLIC SPHERE: TRACING THE ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNANCE AND SOCIETY

Abstract

This thesis explores the concept of the public sphere within the framework of Islamic political thought. Public sphere has gained significance in political theory as it is a defining concept for analysing political participation and state-society relations. The current discussions around the term is mostly dominated by the Euro-centric narrative that defines the public sphere through the lens of secular liberalism. The public sphere that Islamic principles envision is built on different grounds than the modern state. Drawing on primary sources, classical Islamic texts and secondary academic sources, this study examines the functional boundaries of the state and the corresponding autonomy of the public sphere. Works by key classical scholars illustrate how early Islamic governance assigned the state specific responsibilities (protecting sharia, maintaining security, and managing the economy), while leaving space for independent social institutions such as the ulama, awqaf, and hisbah to operate within the public sphere without an influential intervention of the political power. This thesis argues that Islamic governance reflects a balanced system where political authority is limited by the divine law; and moral and social responsibility is distributed across society. The research also addresses how the rise of the modern nation-state and authoritarianism have undermined the traditional balance between state and society in Muslim countries, leading to increased state control and the erosion of autonomous public spaces. By employing the concept of the public sphere, analysing the structural functions of the historical Islamic model of governance and its relevance to modern political structures, this thesis seeks to demonstrate how reviving Islamic elements can offer alternative models of governance that bring up justice, social cohesion, and political legitimacy. Ultimately, this study positions the Islamic public sphere not as a relic of the past but as a viable framework for recreating the public sphere in the post-colonial Islamic state.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies