Mishal Fahm al-Sulami is Assistant Professor of Modern Western Political Thought in the Arts and Humanities Faculty, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

• Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Definitions Abbreviations and transliteration Introduction Part 1: Historical background 1. The evolution of democracy 2. The eclectic nature of shura 3. Shura in the contemporary period: the case of Sudan Part 2: Comparison of Western liberal democracies and al-Turabi's shura system 4. The foundations of Western liberal democracy and al-Turabi's shura system 5. Political system divisions 6. Political legalisation Conclusion Appendices Notes Bibliography Index