A Comparative study of the Basis of Citizenship in Political Philosophy (Classic, Modern and Islamic)

Mutual rights and responsibilities of the people and the government in classical political philosophy is formulated on the basis of natural rights. Modern political philosophy does not believe that there are such natural rights and takes social contract to be the foundation of citizenship. The contextualism existing in this view constitutes a relationship between citizenship and nationalism. Islamic political philosophy does not believe in naturalism and considers social contract to be insufficient in organizing the mutual rights and duties of the government and the people. Citizenship in the Islamic political thought has its roots in virtue which seeks to attain the truth and displays commitment to it. Utopia or the ideal city is a city where virtue is being sought through perusing the truth and making commitments to it as well as promoting the welfare of all citizens.