NEW TRENDS IN ISLAMIC POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE ARAB SPRING COUNTRIES

The recent developments. of Islamic political parties in the Arab spring countries show new orientation and agendas, i.e. reconfirmation of their commitment to democratic values, strengthening civil society, and adopting human rights principles. In the same time, they indicate not to be interested in the old Islamic agendas relating to jihad for Islamic states (dawlah Islimiyah) and "global Islamic government" under one centralized caliphate (al-khildfah al-Islamiyyah). It is the case of Justice and Development Party (Hizb al-Addlah wa'l-Tanmiyah) in Morocco, Freedom and Justice Party (Hizb al-Ilurriyyah wal-Addlah) in Egypt, and Awakening Party (Hizb al-Nahclah) in Tunis. This paper seeks to explore and explain this new lad. Based on literary research and interviews with the leaders of the Justice and Development Party (Hizb al-Addlah wa'l-Tanmiyah) in Morocco, the paper concludes that the new orientation and agendas of Islamic political parties in the Arab spring states are related to democratization in the world, strong waves of Arab spring in many Arab states, and the dynamics of the internal parties.