So, What Is a ‘Civic State’? Unpacking a Contested Concept in the Arab World (opens in new tab)

by Reem Turkmani and Tamara El Khoury Few concepts in contemporary Arab political life have been defined as differently, as al-dawla al-madaniyya – the civic or civil state. The concept has been claimed by Islamist movements, secular parties, transitional governments, constitution-drafting bodies, and civil society demonstrations. But across these uses, agreement on what it actually means remains very thin.