Political Thought in the Mamluk Period: The Unnecessary Caliphate

The book "Political Thought in the Mamluk Period" explores the political thought of legal theorists, jurists, judges, and administrators during the late Ayyubid and early Mamluk periods, focusing on the rule of law, limited government, and legitimate power delegation. It proposes a taxonomy of themes and concerns and recommends a contextualist approach for interpreting Islamic political texts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The Mamluk Period saw a flourishing of political thought among legal theorists, jurists, judges, and administrators, as they grappled with the critical question of how to govern their communities effectively. This intellectual movement encompassed a diverse range of perspectives and ideas, seeking to establish a framework for governing that balanced the principles of the rule of law, limited government, and legitimate delegation of power.

To organize and categorize this political thought, the book proposes a taxonomy that encompasses the key themes and concerns of this period. These ideals serve as guiding principles for understanding the political discourse of the time.

Furthermore, the book advocates for a contextualist approach to interpreting Islamic political texts. It recognizes that these texts were written within specific social, intellectual, and political contexts, and thus, a comprehensive understanding requires an analysis of these contexts. By examining treatises by five carefully selected authors who thrived in the Syro-Egyptian lands between c.1250 and c.1350, the book delves into important questions related to authorship, readership, dedicatees, authorial motives and intentions, genres and literary styles, sources and influences, and applicability.

Through its comprehensive examination of political thought during the Mamluk Period, this book offers valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of Islamic political thought and its enduring impact on the region. It sheds light on the debates, discussions, and innovations that shaped the political landscape of the time and provides a framework for understanding the political developments of the past.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 166 x 243 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474479646