THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION IN MALAWI (2015-2023)

Abstract

This paper explores how Muslims were involved in Malawian public policy formulation from 2015 to 2023. In essence, the main objective of the study strives to investigate the influence of Muslims in the formulation of public policy in Malawi. The study was inspired by the worldwide influence of religion, particularly Christianity, on the formulation of public policy. Using a qualitative research paradigm, the study employs content analysis to find trends that would help explain how Muslims affected public policy formulation over the specified time. David Easton’s Political Systems theory and the Pluralist theory were applied to understand how Muslims participated in the formulation of public policy and how formulated policies mirrored their goals. Based on data from key informants and an analysis of a few policy documents including the National Foreign Policy (2019) coupled with the Malawi Trade Policy (2017) as the National Education Policy (2016); this paper substantiates that Muslims participated in the formulation of public policies during the specified period through Muslim organizations that used cooperative strategies (lobbying and contact and dialogue). In all, this study’s findings, nevertheless, manifest how little Muslim contributions regarding Islamic values, beliefs and practices were taken into consideration when creating public policy between 2015 and 2023.