Islamic Political Thought and Chinese Governance: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This research paper seeks to compare Islamic political thought and the Chinese governance system by highlighting their theoretical background, development over the years, current usage, and impact of the governance system. Islamic political philosophy derived from the Quran and Hadith propounds the Islamic principles of divine control, justice, and consultation (shura) to qualify any system of governance at both a moral as well as ethical level. Chinese governance, therefore, derives from Confucianism, Legalism, and Socialism in that it advocates for strict order, control from the center, and sober-realist policies under the Chinese communist party (CCP). This study has included both the quantitative analysis of social stability, economic performance, and perception of public satisfaction, as well as the qualitative assessment of political systems and ideologies to demonstrate the differences and similarities in the two systems. Islamic governance enhances religious and moral values in states, making its effects diverse. Chinese governance focuses on economic growth and political stability; satisfaction with government and economic growth rate is high in China. The paper argues that the comparison of such differences offers useful knowledge on the political regulation principles between various communities and indicates that future studies should investigate the effects of globalization and techno-scientific progress on these systems. By comparing the two cases, this paper provides insights into how specific premises of governance influence the models in Islamic and Chinese societies.