The book Jurisprudence, the People, and Governance, authored by Dr. Mansour Mirahmadi, is a recent contribution to the field of Islamic political thought and the concept of people-based governance, published in Persian in 292 pages by the Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy. Relying on an Ijtihadi methodological framework, this work endeavors to provide a novel reading of citizens’ political agency and the position of “the people” within the governance paradigm based on Shia jurisprudence.
The point of departure and key distinction of this research is its transition beyond reductionist and structuralist approaches, which previously focused solely on the form and structure of government. In contrast, by adopting a process-oriented approach, this book shifts its focus to the “governance process” and the networked, dynamic role of the public in shaping, sustaining, and reforming this process.
Through a critical and in-depth analysis of religious texts and proofs, the author conceptualizes and elucidates the rights and political agency of the people across four fundamental domains of governance:
- Authorization and Legitimization: Elucidating the mechanisms of election and the fundamental role of the public will in legitimizing rulers and political agents.
- Participation: Examining the jurisprudential capacities for institutionalizing citizens’ presence in the arenas of policymaking, planning, and the execution of laws, with an emphasis on the institution of Shura (consultative council) and other participatory platforms.
- Oversight and Accountability: Reproducing traditional concepts such as al-Nasihat li-A’immat al-Muslimin (offering sincere advice to the leaders of Muslims) and al-Amr bi al-Ma’ruf wa al- Nahy ‘an al-Munkar (enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong) as instruments for establishing transparency, accountability, and institutionalized oversight over the state’s performance.
- Transformation and Change: Formulating peaceful, legal, and jurisprudential mechanisms for enacting reforms, transforming governance processes, and facilitating the transfer of power.
Furthermore, drawing upon fundamental theologico-political concepts such as Istikhlaf (human vicegerency on Earth), Amanah (Divine trust), and Bay’ah (pledge of allegiance), the present book delineates a flexible and dynamic model of Islamic governance wherein the interaction between the state and citizens possesses a dialectical and participatory nature.
Due to its analytical approach and conceptual innovations in the philosophy of political jurisprudence, Jurisprudence, the People, and Governance serves as a valuable reference for international researchers, as well as faculty members in departments of political science, Middle Eastern studies, and Islamic studies. It opens new horizons for formulating the discourse of “people-based governance” within the contemporary Islamic world.
