ABSTRACT
One of the most common accusations made against modern Islamic movements is that they lack specific solutions for the political, social and economic problems of their countries. Since the date of the formation of their political party in 1981, the Tunisian Islamists, when challenged on this point, have always maintained that it was the government's repression that prevented them from working on a detailed political and social programme. Ghannouchi argues strongly in his work that his notion of "Islamic democracy" is his own personal contribution to contemporary Tunisian Islamic thought. However, historical evidence with which to substantiate this claim is somewhat lacking. For Ghunnouchi, there is nothing wrong with the institutions of Western democracy, such as elections, parliament, the rule of the majority, the multiparty system and freedom of the press. The wider framework for this "Islamic democracy" is a strong stand for the respect of human rights.
