Norms matter: A comparative legal perspective on political Islam and state power in North Africa

The prevalence and position of Islamic political parties has increased since the Arab Spring. Though there has been much analysis on the role and ideologies of these parties little has been focused on their position and engagement in law-making and therefore their impact on state-society relations. This paper analyses the role of such parties as law-makers, focusing on how such parties engage and impact law making and how they utilize Islamic normative traditions. It will provide evidence from core examples including the right to life and the death penalty and the rights of secession of property after death.