Abstract
Abstract The paper starts from the premise that the revolutions in the countries of the so-called Arab Spring (2011 and onwards) brought about an important shift in the understanding of right and duty. This trend is related to the transformation of the relationship of the ruler and the ruled in those countries as well as in the perception of work ethics. Whereas the systems of these countries have consistently considered work as a duty of citizens and encouraged them to work hard for the development and prospering of the state, these popular movements have transformed work from a duty and responsibility on the shoulders of the individual into a right of the individual that can be claimed from the state, which is trying to evade its responsibilities – including the duty to provide job opportunities for its citizens. The researcher does not claim to present a comprehensive outline of the topic; this is rather a preliminary approach that deserves further study and analysis. What happened is not necessarily caused by direct contact with the “West” or being influenced by “Western” political philosophy, as we can find hints and origins for this transformation in both classical and modern Islamic moral thought. This paper presents examples of the relationship of right and duty from different historical periods.
Highlights
The successive revolutions and uprisings in the Arab world from 2011 onwards bore witness to a debate on the political concepts of dictatorship and democracy, they bring the discussion on paradigms which have determined the relation between the state and its citizens in this region to the fore
An unprecedented phenomenon occurred in Muslim culture when, in 2011, in countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, and Algeria,1 thousands of men and women gathered in public places to demonstrate and demand employment, thereby laying claim to work and democracy as their rights while identifying the state’s obligation to offer employment (Bayat 2017, 135–152)
I have chosen as my case study the changes that have occurred in the understanding of work ethics as well as those regarding the paradigms of obligation and rights
Summary
The successive revolutions and uprisings in the Arab world from 2011 onwards bore witness to a debate on the political concepts of dictatorship and democracy, they bring the discussion on paradigms which have determined the relation between the state and its citizens in this region to the fore. The shift of the concept of work from a facultative occupation to an obligatory undertaking during the period under consideration can be seen as a shift in the role of the Islamic califate from being compelled to help the poor – by gathering alms and taxes from the rich and dividing it among the economically disadvantaged – to motivating people to earn their living autonomously, independently from the state (Bonner 2001, 416f.) This shift bore witness to a radical transition and caused the Muslim population to openly acknowledge their individual need to work, for work came to be viewed as the most important aspect of their lives. While the theological debate remained consistent over a long period of time, discussions surrounding practical questions concerning work began to intensify, such that chapters on leasing (ijāra) or contracting and hiring workers in legal writings, for example, grew longer and the debate became more complex
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
