Islamist Perspectives on the Concept of the Civic State in the Arab World
In contemporary Arab political discourse, the “civic state” (dawla madaniyya) has emerged as a deeply contested concept, often framed against both theocratic and secular models. Islamist movements hold diverse views, with reformists seeking to harmonise the civic state with an Islamic reference (marja’iyya), while rejectionists denounce any system not grounded in divine sovereignty. This paper interrogates these tensions through a critical examination of the positions adopted by leading Islamist formations and thinkers towards the civic state, with particular attention to the case of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria.
HTS has skilfully adopted the language and structures of civic governance to legitimise its rule; however, its approach is a facade for an authoritarian core. Both in its Idlib proto-state and after the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, power has been monopolised by its security and religious bodies, subverting the principles of institutional independence and the rule of law. Syria’s recent trajectory therefore highlights a significant regional risk: what if civic rhetoric is used by illiberal actors to mask and entrench a new, more sophisticated form of authoritarian rule?
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