The Evolution of the Concept of Ideal Government in the Political Thought of Rashed Ghannouchi

Abstract

<em>One of the most important concerns of Islamists in responding to the retardation of Islamic societies is the issue of government. This concern became more evident in the new wave of popular uprisings in Arab countries in 2011. In Tunisia, with the collapse of Ben Ali and the power of Al-Nahda under the leadership of Rashed Ghannouchi, various theoretical analyzes of the future of the political system and the ideal government in this country became the focus of political attention. This paper seeks to address the question of “what is the conceptual transformation of a ideal government in the political views and ideas of Rashed Ghannouchi?" In order to answer this question, this paper has used intentionality hermeneutics method of Skinner in analyzing political thought.</em> <em>The findings indicate that the ideal government in Ghannouchi's political thought has undergone a conceptual transformation in three periods: In the first period, he seeks for Islamic-based democracy. In Second period , after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, he seeks Islam as a specific social agenda for governance. In the third period after 2011, Ghannouchi's ideal government transformed from Islamic democracy to Muslim democracy.</em>