THE SOCIOLOGY OF SALAFI REPRESENTATIONS OF DEMOCRACY: BETWEEN DOCTRINAL REJECTION AND PRAGMATIC UTILIZATION

Abstract

This article examines the sociological representation of democracy in Salafi thought, emphasizing its foundational ideological opposition based on the concept of divine sovereignty (ḥākimiyya), which views democracy as conflicting with tawḥīd, since it transfers legislative authority from God to the people. However, post-Arab Spring political shifts led some Salafi groups to pragmatically engage in political participation without adopting democratic values. Drawing on the theories of Moscovici, Abric, and Bourdieu, the author analyzes the mental structures and adaptive strategies of Salafi actors. The paper shows that Salafi involvement in democracy is driven by strategic interests, not ideological transformation. Through a comparison between Egypt’s al-Nour Party and Tunisia’s al-Islah Party, it reveals a dual discourse: using democratic mechanisms while rejecting their normative foundations. Ultimately, the article concludes that the Salafi stance reflects a pragmatic representation of democracy shaped by political contingencies, rather than a deep doctrinal revision