Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring
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- $37.99
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- $37.99
Publisher Description
The landscape of the Middle East has changed dramatically since 2011, as have the political arena and the discourse around democracy. In Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring, John L. Esposito, John Voll, and Tamara Sonn examine the state of democracy in Muslim-majority societies today. Applying a twenty-first century perspective to the question of whether Islam is "compatible" with democracy, they redirect the conversation toward a new politics of democracy that transcends both secular authoritarianism and Political Islam.
While the opposition movements of the Arab Spring vary from country to country, each has raised questions regarding equality, economic justice, democratic participation, and the relationship between Islam and democracy in their respective countries. Does democracy require a secular political regime? Are religious movements the most effective opponents of authoritarian secularist regimes? Esposito, Voll, and Sonn examine these questions and shed light on how these opposition movements reflect the new global realities of media communication and sources of influence and power. Positioned for a broad readership of scholars and students, policy-makers, and media experts, Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring will quickly become a go-to for all who watch the Middle East, inside and outside of academia.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Esposito, Tamara, and Voll offer context and analysis of the past in an attempt to forecast democracy's future within Islamic countries in light of the events of the Arab Spring of 2010, when the latest wave of democratizing forces in the Middle East became globally visible. To explore the varying degrees of democracy in Islamic nations, the authors undertake case studies of Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Senegal, Tunisia, and Egypt. Their results will silence those who contend that the Muslim world is an unlikely participant in democratization developments in the 21st century. The authors provide excellent historical background, tracing the contours of each country's political annals and introducing the important figures, political movements, cultural antecedents, and popular constituencies that make up its political mosaic. Focusing on Islam's political (or in some cases apolitical) expressions, they present many facets of Islam with balance and insight. This is a detailed picture of democracy as alive and well in majority-Muslim countries, and an excellent text for considering what the future holds for international Islam.
