DEMOCRACY & POLITICAL ORDER

Compiled by Sheila Musaji

updated 6/17/2009 - more updates to follow

A Comparative Approach to Islam and Democracy, Fethullah Gulen http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_comparative_approach_to_islam_and_democracy/

A Faltering Freedom Agenda, The Disillusion of Muslim Reformers:  A Traditionalist Reply, Dr. Robert Dickson Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_faltering_freedom_agenda_the_disillusion_of_muslim_reformers_a_traditiona/

Algeria: Islam and Democratic Experiment: Remembering Algeria, Prof. Sulayman S. Nyang http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_democratic_experiment_remembering_algeria/

America & Iran: Out of Step With Democracy and Islam, Abid Mustafa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/america_iran_out_of_step_with_democracy_and_islam/

American Attitude on Promoting Democracy Gets a Thumbs-down, Dr. Habib Siddiqui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_attitude_on_promoting_democracy_gets_a_thumbs_down/

Book Review:  Islam and Democracy:  A Foundation for Ending Extremism and Preventing Conflict (Rash), Shayn Mccallum and Michael Ellison http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/book_review_islam_and_democracy_a_foundation_for_ending_extremism_and_preve/

Burma’s struggle for democracy - What needs to be done?, Dr. Habib Siddiqui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/burmas_struggle_for_democracy_what_needs_to_be_done/

Burma:  Daw Suu Kyi and movement for democracy, freedom and human rights in Burma, Dr. Habib Siddiqui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/daw_suu_kyi_and_movement_for_democracy_freedom_and_human_rights_in_burma/

Can the U.S. Have a Role in Promoting Democracy in the Arab World, James Zogby http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/can_the_us_have_a_role_in_promoting_democracy_in_the_arab_world/

Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) https://www.csidonline.org/

Civil, Democratic Islam: America’s Desperate Search for the ‘Liberal’ Muslims, Yoginder Sikand http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/civil_democratic_islam_americas_desperate_search_for_the_liberal_muslim/

Contemporary Challenges to Secularism and Democracy - A Religious Response, Asghar Ali Engineer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/contemporary_challenges_to_secularism_and_democracy_a_religious_response/

Court Case that Could Reshape American Democracy, Rupert Cornwell http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1211-02.htm

Democracy According to Traditional Islamic Sources, ISCA, http://www.zaharuddin.net/content/view/120/72/

Democracy and Imperialism, Ishtiaq Ahmed http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_and_imperialism/

Democracy and the Majority principle in islamic Legal-Political Thought, Ermin Sinanovic http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_and_the_majority_principle_in_islamic_legal_political_thought/

Democracy and Human Rights in the Middle East Today”, Saad Eddin Ibrahim http://www.islam-democracy.org/4th_Annual_Conference-Ibrahim_address.asp

Democracy, For Export Only, by David Pauling http://www.davidpauling.com/

Democracy, Freedom, and Imposition:  How Best Can the US Effect Democratization in the Middle East, Louay Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_freedom_and_imposition_how_best_can_the_us_effect_democratization/

Democracy in Action, Dr. Abdelwahab el-Effendi, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_in_action/

Democracy, Iraq and the Middle East, Sami Zubaida http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_iraq_and_the_middle_east/

Democracy, Islam and oil, Wahida Valiante http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_islam_and_oil/

Democracy, Presidential Election and the Lobby, Habib Siddiqui http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_presidential_election_and_the_lobby/

Democracy: The Religious ad the Political in Contemporary Islamic Debate, Dr. Azzam Tamimi, Part I http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_the_religious_and_the_political_in_contemporary_islamic_debate_pa/ - Part II http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_the_religious_and_the_political_in_contemporary_islamic_debate_pa/

Democracy Restored:  But No Shift in Values, Muqtedar Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_restored_but_no_shift_in_values/

Democracy, Sure But On Whose Terms?, Parvez Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democracy_sure_but_on_whose_terms/

The Democratic Agenda for Arabs, Neal AbuNab http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_democratic_agenda_for_arabs/

Democratic Dictatorships, Ibrahim Mansour http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democratic_dictatorships/

Democratic Reform in the Muslim World and Cultural Challenges, Louay Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/democratic_reform_in_the_muslim_world_and_cultural_challenges/

Do Muslims Deserve Democracy?, Abdelwahab El-Affendi, http://www.newint.org/issue345/democracy.htm#key

Forgotten Founders: Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois and the Rationale for the American Revolution, Bruce Johansen.  The full text of the book is online at http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/FF.html 

Free or Fraud: What if President Ahmadi Nejad Was Resoundingly Reelected!, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/free_or_fraud_what_if_president_ahmadi_nejad_was_resoundingly_reelected/

Freedom and Democracy: America’s Ultimate Polytheism - Some further thoughts, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/freedom_and_democracy_americas_ultimate_polytheism_some_further_thoughts/

Future of Democracy in Iran, Dr. Ali Paya, http://www.islam21.net/pages/keyissues/key6-1.htm

Getting Worse for the Arabs, Edward Said http://www.mfsd.org/debate/edward.htm

The Hidden Holocaust: Our Civilizational Crisis - Part 2: Exporting Democracy, Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_hidden_holocaust_our_civilizational_crisis_part_2_exporting_democracy/

House Votes 309-118 to Scale Back Patriot Act; FCC Rules May Be Overturned Too http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/23/164226

How to Improve Relations with the Muslim World - Challenges and Promises Ahead, Mariem R. Masmoudi, CSID http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/how_to_improve_relations_with_the_muslim_world_challenges_and_promises_ahea/0017414

If We’re Promoting Democracy, Why Not Support it in Turkey, Grenville Byford, Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A15073-2002Oct11̬Found=true

Illusion of Choice, Matthew Riemer http://yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=845

Impact of Arab Satellite Television on the Prospects for Democracy in the Arab World, S. Abdallah Schleifer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/impact_of_arab_satellite_television_on_the_prospects_for_democracy_in_the_a/

In Search of a Muslim Path to Democracy, Ali Mazrui, http://www.islam-democracy.org/4th_Annual_Conference-Mazrui_address.asp

India:  Democracy, Parochialism and Peace, Asghar Ali Engineer http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/india_democracy_parochialism_and_peace/

India:  Multi-religious democracy and its challenges, Asghar Ali Engineer http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/india_multi_religious_democracy_and_its_challenges/

Indonesian Elections: Dreaming of Gajah Mada in a Modern Democracy, Farish A. Noor http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/indonesian_elections_dreaming_of_gajah_mada_in_a_modern_democracy/

Institutions of Democracy Are More Important Than Democracy, Tarek Heggy, http://www.heggy.org/recent_articles.htm

Interfaith Guidelines on Human Rights, Pluralism, Democracy, and Authority, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interfaith_guidelines_on_human_rights_pluralism_democracy_and_authority/

Interview with Amr Hamzawy: “Democratic Change Must Come from Within”, Bassam Rizk http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview_with_amr_hamzawy_democratic_change_must_come_from_within/

Interview with Radwan Masmoudi of CSID Muslims do want democracy https://www.csidonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=349&Itemid=1

Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 2): Muslims and Democracy, Fatma Sagir http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interview_with_mohammad_mojtahed_shabestari_part_2_muslims_and_democracy/

Iran: Groups Urge Congress to Stop Funding Failed Iran “Democracy” Program, National Iranian American Council http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/groups_urge_congress_to_stop_funding_failed_iran_democracy_program/

Iran: Sistaining Democracy, Ibrahim Mansour http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/sistaining_democracy/

Iraq: To “save Iraqi Democracy” Bush’s war will target Shias too, M. A. Muqtedar Khan http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/to_save_iraqi_democracy_bushs_war_will_target_shias_too/

IRAQ:  Extending the Abraham Federation Model: A Just Third Way for Bringing Democracy to the Iraqi People, Norman G. Kurland, Center for Economic and Social Justice http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/iraq_extending_the_abraham_federation_model_a_just_third_way_for_bringing_d/

Is Democracy in the Middle East a Pipedream?, Fawaz Gerges http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/is_democracy_in_the_middle_east_a_pipedream/

Is the US Contributing to Democracy?, James Zogby http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/is_the_us_contributing_to_democracy/

Is the U.S. Ready for Democracy?, Davis Newsom http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=6671

Is President Bush Pushing for Democracy Too Early in Iraq?, Radwan Masmoudi http://www.islam-democracy.org/art_im_dec-1-2003.asp

Islam, Islamists, and Democracy, Ali R. Abootalebi, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_islamists_and_democracy/

Islam and Democracy: A Lesson From Turkey, Justin Smith http://www.counterpunch.org/smith05152004.html

Islam and democracy are not incompatible at all,  Tom Plate http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=87302

Islam and democracy can – and do – coexist, John Hughes http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0508/p09s02-coop.html

Islam and Democracy Rejoinder, John O. Voll and John Esposito, http://www.meforum.org/article/200

Islam & Constitutional Rights, Iftekhar Hai, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_constitutional_rights/

Islam and the Challenge of Democracy by Khaled Abou El Fadl
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/abou.html  Excellent article which attempts to answer the question: How, then, can a democratic conception of the peoples authority be reconciled with an Islamic understanding of GodҒs authority?  This article has received a lot of attention and responses from other scholars. 
-Response from John Esposito http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/esposito.html
- Response from Nader Hashemi http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/hashemi.html
- Response from Noah Feldman http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/feldman.html
- Response from Jeremy Waldron http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/waldron.html
- Response from Muqtedar Khan http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/khan.html
- Response of A. Kevin Reinhart http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/reinhart.html
- Response of Saba Mahmood http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/mahmood.html
- Response from Mohamed Fadel http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/fadel.html
- Response from Bernard Haykel http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/haykel.html
- Response from William Quandt http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/quandt.html
- Khaled Abou El Fadl Replies to Responses http://www.bostonreview.net/BR28.2/abouRE.html

Islam and Islamism: Global Caliphate or Prelude to Democracy?, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_islamism_global_caliphate_or_prelude_to_democracy/

“Islam and Liberal Democracy: Recognizing Pluralism,” Laith Kubba, Journal of Democracy 7.2 (1996) 86-89 http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kubba.htm

Islam in Democracy, Asghar Ali Engineer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_in_democracy/

ISLAM, ISLAMISTS, AND DEMOCRACY, Ali R. Abootalebi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_islamists_and_democracy/

Islamic Constitutional Law versus Secular Absolutism, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_constitutional_law_versus_secular_absolutism/

Islamic Government” - An Oxymoron, T.O. Shanavas http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_government_an_oxymoron/

Islam’s Compatibility with Democracy, M.A. Muqtedar Khan, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islams_compatibility_with_democracy/

Islam’s Democratic Essence, John O. Voll and John Esposito, http://www.meforum.org/article/151

Islamic legitimacy Without the Testimony of the Muslim Will?, Parvez Manzoor,  http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_legitimacy_without_the_testimony_of_the_muslim_will/

Islamic Democracy vs. Fundamentalism, Gasser Hathout http://www.toobeautiful.org/lat_020927.html

Islamic Concept of a Political Order, G.W. Choudhury, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_concept_of_a_political_order/

Islamocracy: In Search of a Muslim Path to Democracy, Prof. Ali A. Mazrui http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamocracy_in_search_of_a_muslim_path_to_democracy/

Jihad vs. McWorld, Benjamin Barber, http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/foreign/barberf.htm

Liberty for Muslims?, David R. Sands http://www.islam-democracy.org/art_wt_july-4-2003.asp

Managing Consent: The Art of War, Democracy and Public Relations, Ramzy Baroud http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/managing_consent_the_art_of_war_democracy_and_public_relations/

Middle East: America’s democracy advance puts secularism into retreat, Abid Mustafa http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/middle_east_americas_democracy_advance_puts_secularism_into_retreat/

The Middle Path to Democracy in the Middle East, Parvez Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_middle_path_to_democracy_in_the_middle_east/

Notion of Shura: Shura or Democracy?, Dr. Tariq Ramadan, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/notion_of_shr_shr_or_democracy/

Open Letter to President Obama about Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the Muslim World http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/open_letter_to_president_obama_about_democracy_promotion_in_the_middle_east/ 

Pakistan:  Discussing Democracy in Islamabad, Yoginder Sikand http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pakistan_discussing_democracy_in_islamabad/

Pakistan: Musharraf fears democracy, not extremism, Vali Nasr http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1106/p09s02-coop.html

Pakistan:  Time for democracy, Ishtiaq Ahmed http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/pakistan_time_for_democracy/

Palestine:  Democracy Defeated, Ramzy Baroud http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/palestine/

Palestine: Hamas — can it bring peace and democracy?, Ishtiaq Ahmed http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hamas_can_it_bring_peace_and_democracy/

Palestine: Peace and Democracy must go Hand in Hand, Ramzy Baroud http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/palestine_peace_and_democracy_must_go_hand_in_hand/

Palestinian Elections: Victory for Democracy, Dr. Bernard Sabella http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/palestinian_elections_victory_for_democracy/

Political Islam and The Future of Democracy in the Middle East, Radwan A. Masmoudi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/political_islam_and_the_future_of_democracy_in_the_middle_east/

Prominent Muslim Scholars and Experts Urge President to Make Democracy in the Middle East a Top Priority http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/prominent_scholars_and_experts_urge_president_to_make_democracy_in_the_midd/

Promise & Peril: Prospects for Democracy in the Muslim World Today, Svend White, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/promise_peril_prospects_for_democracy_in_the_muslim_world_today/

QUOTES
- Adams, John http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/John_Adams/
- Douglass, Frederick http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Booker_T._Washington/
- Eisenhower, Dwight D.http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Dwight_D._Eisenhower/
- Einstein, Albert http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Albert_Einstein/
- Franklin, Benjamin http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Benjamin_Franklin/
- Gandhi, Mahatma http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/
- Jefferson, Thomas http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson/
- King Jr., Martin Luther http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Martin_Luther_King_Jr./
- Washington, Booker T.http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Booker_T._Washington/

RAND CORPORATION’S UNGRACIOUS STRATEGY FOR A “CIVIL DEMOCRATIC ISLAM”: MUSLIMS SEARCHING FOR PARTNERS, Javeed Akhter http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/rand_corporations_ungracious_strategy_for_a_civil_democratic_islam_muslims/

RAND Report on Terrorism - U.S. Imperialism in Democracy’s Name, Yoginder Sikand http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/rand_report_on_terrorism_us_imperialism_in_democracys_name/

Reason, Freedom, and Democracy in Islam (Abdolkarim Soroush) - Reforming Religious Knowledge, Asma Barlas http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/books_reason_freedom_and_democracy_in_islam_by_abdolkarim_soroush_reforming/

Selective Memory and a Dishonest Doctrine, Noam Chomsky, http://monkeyfist.com/ChomskyArchive/essays/selective_html 

Shura, Democracy & the Muslim World, Suleman Dangor,  http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/shura_democracy_the_muslim_world/

Shura and the Islamic Vision of Democracy, M. Riaz Khan, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/shura_and_the_islamic_vision_of_democracy/

Somalia: Democracy Wins Again?, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/somalia_democracy_wins_again/

Terror, Islam, and Democracy, Ladan Boroumand and Roya Boroumand, http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/terror_islam_and_democracy/

Tharwa Project, The http://www.tharwaproject.com/

Thomas Jefferson Quotes http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson/

The Threat to Secular Democracy In Malaysia, Farish A. Noor http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_threat_to_secular_democracy_in_malaysia/

Turkey: Muslim Democracy in Action, Jackson Diehl http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082600906_pf.html

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Muslim World: A Barrier to Democracy, Muqtedar Khan http://www.glocaleye.org/forpoldem.htm

Understanding Islam: Challenges to Democracy and Plurality, Louay Safi http://home.att.net/~louaysafi/articles/2002/understanding.htm

Video:  Islam Democracy and Human Rights with Shirin Ebadi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdKl2qvqUU0

The War of the Titans:  Who Will Control “Democratic Capitalism”, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_war_of_the_titans_who_will_control_democratic_capitalism/

We Had a Democracy Once, But You Crushed It, Russell Mokhiber http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0810-06.htm

What Meaneth Black Suffering? Race, Meaning-Making, and Democracy in Post-Katrina America, Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/what_meaneth_black_suffering_race_meaning_making_and_democracy_in_post_katr/

Whither Democracy in America?, Dr. Habib Siddiqui http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/whither_democracy_in_america/

Why Democracy and Why Now?, Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/why_democracy_and_why_now/

Why do we support un-Democratic regimes?, Aziz Shihab http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/why_do_we_support_un_democratic_regimes/

Why has democracy not taken root in most Muslim countries?, Munir Pervaiz Saami http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/why_has_democracy_not_taken_root_in_most_muslim_countries/

SEE ALSO:  The topic democracy and political order on The American Muslim site for many more articles.