Democracy and democratization in contemporary Muslim societies: a theoretical analysis

Ra'ees, Wahabuddin (2010) Democracy and democratization in contemporary Muslim societies: a theoretical analysis. Intellectual Discourse, 18 (2). pp. 235-259. ISSN 0128-4878

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Abstract

This paper examines the impact of democracy and democratization on contemporary Muslim societies. The institutional and philosophical approaches to democracy and democratization are inseparable. The paper investigates the relationship between the philosophical dimension of Western democracy and the Muslim philosophy of life and concludes that the democratization of contemporary Muslim societies leads to serious and destabilizing ideological polarization and division of Muslim societies into supporters of secularism and political Islam. The Islamist-secularists relation radicalizes: (1) when the Islamists are prevented from capturing power through democratic institutions and (2) when the advanced Western democratic states cooperate with non-democratic secular elites of Muslim societies. The destabilizing role of democracy can be moderated if the Islamists are engaged in the democratic process, and the debate between the Islamists, the secularists and the West . based on the view that the West should conceive Islam as an alternative weltanschauung (worldview) . focuses on issues that are human properties, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or language. The institutional approach to democracy provides a common ground for cooperation and dialogue between the Islamists, the secularists and the West.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	2244/4780
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Democratization, institutional and philosophical approaches, Muslim societies, political Islam, the West
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JC Political theory J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science
Depositing User:	Prof. Dr. Wahabuddin Ra'ees
Date Deposited:	06 Dec 2011 11:59
Last Modified:	08 May 2012 16:30
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/4780

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