The Leavitt Center is pleased to announce that Pizza & Politics this week will feature Provost Brad Cook! The Provost, who holds a doctoral degree in Middle East Studies, will be speaking on the challenges and opportunities that Islam poses for democracy.
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this topic has been at the forefront of American public discourse. Many people, including some scholars, believe that Islam is incompatible with democracy. But the Provost takes a different view, arguing that while Islam presents several challenges for democracy, it is in no way incompatible. This post is based on an academic article co-authored by Provost Cook, titled “Democracy and Islam.”
Islam’s Unique Attributes—And How They Can Challenge Democracy
Provost Brad Cook
When comparing the amount of influence certain religions exert on their followers, Islam ranks near the top of any list. The Provost writes that “Islam is not a religion in the same sense that Christianity or Buddhism is a religion. For Muslims, Islam is much more than a moral philosophy of life, system of belief, or a spiritual order; it is a ‘complete and comprehensive way of life.’” In Arabic, the word Islam means “submission to God,” making the definition of Muslim “one who submits to the will of God.” Islamic societies are well known for their people’s submission to community, and synthesis of religion and politics. Because most Muslim’s see the ideal form of government as one based on Islamic law and the Quran, some recent and revolutionary democratic ideas are not recognized.
Islam’s Compatibility with Democracy
While certain aspects of Islam pose challenges to democracy, historically, the religion provides several examples of democratic thought. After immigrating to Medina in 622 CE, Muhammad (Islam’s great prophet) crafted what may have been the first written constitution in world history. The Charter of Medina established the first Islamic state, but offered equal rights to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Provost Cook notes that the principles of “equality and pluralism” were both central to the charter. Most importantly, Muhammad’s charter relied on consent of the governed, a concept critical to democratic government. After Muhammad’s death, democratic ideals didn’t disappear. His successors, called Caliphs, were chosen by a form of an electoral college. Clearly, democracy is not foreign to Islam. But it may seem that way today.
What or who is to blame: Islam or power-hungry dictators?
Maybe it isn’t religion that is holding many Arab countries back from democracy. Some scholars, including Provost Cook, note that political factors have a significant influence on the governing mechanisms of the area. Much of the Middle East is governed by ruling elites and kings who have no interest in relinquishing power. Look no further then Libya’s Mohammar Ghaddafi and Syria’s Bashir Assad for proof of this phenomenon.
Consider…
1. What then, is the cause of so many lagging governments in the Middle East?
2. Is it Islam or power hungry monarchs?
3. Do economics, history, and cultural factors also play a role in the situation?
The floor is now yours…
Henrie Walton is a member of the Executive Council, a former Congressional Intern, and is a Senior Political Science Major at Southern Utah University.
It would be a great for people everywhere to have a democracy. To share similar freedoms that we in the USA have. I am not an expert on Islam but, from reading the article above I think that Islam people are capable of a democracy. But it has to be a democracy that is held to their Islam lifestyle. Islam people may not function in the same democracy the USA has. There are different standards. It will be difficult to form a democracy because there are power hungry dictators that won’t allow it. Those dictators rule by fear of consequence and won’t leave their position. I believe the dictators are the problem and not the religion.
If dictators in Muslim countries are the main cause of intolerance, fundamentalism, and tribalism among their populations; how is it that many Muslims living in Europe and other democracies still adhere to primitive attitudes and behaviors?
Muslims living in other democracies still adhere to the primitive attitudes and behaviors because, as what was said in one of the first sentences, it’s a complete and comprehensive way of life. These beliefs and practices get passed on from generation to generation, regardless of location. You wouldn’t change your whole way of life, your religion, or your beliefs, simply because you don’t live in the same place your religion was founded in. What isushman has failed to realize is that most of what is taught in Islam is a life of peace. Most Muslims, believe it or not, are quite peaceful. Only a fraction of the followers of Islam are the scary terrorists that people fear and hate, but they are the ones who constantly on the news and give everyone else a bad reputation. Muslims could have a democracy, but they won’t (or can’t) because of their leaders who like where they are and have no intention of moving for the way of democracy. It’s not the religion that’s the problem. It’s the dictators.
“It’s not the religion that’s the problem. It’s the dictators” I am a Muslim and I totally agree with this statement.
Muslims Love their religion, enjoy it, and understand it.
“Quran” is the only scripture that will allow a person to understand God, Christianity, Judaism and the history of religions with much focus on Abrahamic religions from an Islamic view that is based on “monotheism”
In the conclusion of my reply I want to share a quote from The Quran so that it may be an introduction to Muslims believe:
“They say, “Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided.” Say, “Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists. Say, [O believers], “We have believed in God and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” 2:135-136
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The Middle East, and most of Islamic world is experience democracy for the first time. Younger, progressive Muslims believe that democracy is absolutely necessary to be a part of the modern world. Conservative Muslims believe that a democracy means to be ruled by a person, and not God. It will be a continuing struggle between the old and the new as the Muslim world moves forward.