Iraq, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World

by Ali Paya (Editor), John L Esposito (Editor)

Overview

Iraq, democracy and Islam are powerful global forces which shape not only many aspects of the lives of Muslims, but the lives of other citizens of the world as well. This book explores many of the challenging questions posed by the interconnections between these three forces, concentrating on issues which have global significance and which have been less studied up until now. It contains contributions from many of the leading thinkers and academics from this subject area, including the former President of Iran, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.

Topics such as the compatibility of Islam and democracy, and the question of whether democracy can be encouraged in the Middle East are looked at carefully. Contributors evaluate the circumstances under which democracy can be imposed by outside force, and asks what forces are driving the confrontation between the West and Islam, before looking at how this confrontation is likely to develop.

This book presents a comprehensive picture of dynamic change in the geopolitics of our time, and offers a timely contribution to research on Middle East Politics and Islamic Studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415582285
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/24/2010
Series:	Durham Modern Middle East and Islamic World Series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ali Paya is Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster, UK, and Associate Professor of Philosophy at the National Research Institute for Science Policy in Iran.

John Esposito is Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, USA, and Founding Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding: History and International Affairs in the Walsh School of Foreign Services.

Table of Contents

List of contributors ix

List of abbreviations xiii

Introduction Ali Paya John L. Esposito 1

Part I Iraq 17

1 Religion, sect, ethnicity and tribe: the uncertainties of identity politics in the new society Faleh A. Jabar 19

2 Lessons from Iraq Laith Kubba 36

3 Kurdistan: democracy and the future of Iraq Salah Aziz 50

4 Forging a third way: Sistani's marja 'iyya between quietism and wilayat al-faqih Abbas Kadhim 66

Part II Democracy 81

5 Humble democracy? On the need for new thinking about an aging ideal John Keane 83

6 Islamic democracy: a valid concept or an oxymoron? Ali Paya 101

7 Promoting democracy Bhikhu Parekh 116

8 The democratic freedom deficit in the Middle East Beverley Milton-Edwards 130

Part III The future of the Muslim world 145

9 Muslim world, historical perspectives and modern political discourses S. M. Khatami 147

10 The saga of Islam and democracy in the Middle East John L. Esposito 159

11 Islam's future imperfect: fighting over camels at the end of history Abdelwahab El-Affendi 172

12 Triumph through destabilization: the future of political Islam Mohammad Samiei 184

13 Reason and revelation in Islamic political ethics Abdulaziz Sachedina 199

Index 216