I often wonder why there is so much squabbling over who deserved to be the first Caliph. I mean, beyond the sectarian religious arguments concerning right of successorship, what would Ali have done in terms of policy-making that would've been significantly different to what Abu Bakr did? Eventually, Imam Ali became the 4th Caliph anyway. How did he govern? Was he a proponent of big government, socially or economically? How did he approach welfare, housing, healthcare, employment, business? What was the amount he levied on lower class and higher class income? How did he deal with foreign nations? Did he believe in the right of a nations' sovereignty? I.e. not imposing one's values on another nation? Did he debate any issue in the legislature or put out a referendum on any issue? Or was it strictly authoritarian? It would help a great deal if someone could provide a short historical insight as to how his government operated.