Can islam and democracy coexist

But what do these principles look like in action? When Islam, like any system of belief or ideology, is put into practice there are various applications and interpretations. There is a debate over how the principles of Islam are to be applied.

Is Islam a holistic system of belief? Does it apply to all areas of life? If it does apply to all areas of life is it through specific dictates or is it in principle? The way that these questions are answered is indicative to what Islam will look like in practice.

In his incisive article Bassam Tibi draws the division in the terms of Islam and Islamism. Both share a common international political vision for a global Islamization Tibi, Thus there are really two separate discussions that take place. One is whether Islam on a principle or theological level is incompatible with democracy. The other is whether there is an incompatibility when applied to the present situation of particular Muslim groups in particular democracies or to the emergence of democracy in particular Muslim societies Minkenberg, The first area concerns Islam as a system of belief, cultural practices, and ethics.

As was seen in the section above, in principle Islam can produce people who are grounded in their ethics through the belief in God. Through the application of Islam in this principle sense there is application to every area of life and yet compatibility with a multitude of political systems, including democracy. Trigg considers this same discussion of religions with a mandate for how all of life should be ordered.

There must be within the culture the freedom for individuals to come to their own conclusions concerning personal belief — and even the right to change that belief — without the fear of government intervention Trigg, For Islamists this does not seem consonant with their view for globalized Islamization. In order to accurately assess an issue the principles being discussed must be defined. It also must be determined whether the discussion is descriptive or prescriptive of the issue.

In essence, is this article attempting to describe the current reality or is the analysis of what might or ought be? This article has attempted to approach the issue of the compatibility of Islam and democracy from both approaches. It has looked at what democracy can or ought to be when its core principles are rightly applied.

It also has considered Islam when applied as a system of faith and source of ethics. But it also must be recognized that there are abuses of both of these issues. Democracy taken to the extreme leads to pluralism and relativism. Islam taken to an extreme leads to enforced religion and oppression of those who hold differing views. In the end this is a complex discussion with a number of variables that have to be taken into account.

At the conclusion of this analysis four scenarios have emerged for the relationship between Islam and democracy. Of these four scenarios three of them are incompatible and inevitably result in conflict. The first is a society where the democratic values of plurality and individual freedom have been taken so far that they lead to pluralism, where nothing can be believed because everything must be believed, and relativism, where nothing can be true because then something is false.

In a society like this even a Muslim who views Islam simply as the theological and ethical grounding would be excluded because he has a belief in a God that is not embraced by others in the society. This is the reality that some Christian and Islamic groups are presently facing in Western societies. In the name of defending individual freedoms the free exercise of those freedoms are prohibited.

This would be particularly damaging to the individual citizen who is forbidden to exercise his individual freedoms. The second scenario would be the same sort of democratic society when it comes into contact with an Islamist ideology that is attempting to bring about a globalized Islamization. In the first part the society would be accepting of this ideology because it is another voice to add to the pluralism. However, when it becomes evident that the Islamist ideology is not ready to bend to the relativist and pluralist agenda conflict of one sort or another is bound to ensue.

This conflict seems to be forthcoming in the countries of Western Europe that have a burgeoning Islamic community and a firm commitment to pluralism and relativism. Either the society will accept the ideology or there will be a cultural clash as these two differing agendas battle in the public sphere. The third scenario is when a democratic society that provides for the exercise of individual freedoms interacts with an Islamist agenda that attempts to curtail those rights.

This is a difficult case in countries where democracy is already established. It is conversely a factor making it difficult for strong democracies to emerge in Muslim majority nations. So in these scenarios there is an incompatibility between Islam and democracy. There is a final scenario where Islam and democracy are compatible. When the principle form of both are rightly exercised there is a place for Muslim individuals within a healthy democracy, and also a place for democracy within a healthy Muslim community.

The exercise of individual freedoms allows for Muslims to live according to their system of belief. They then become beneficial citizens within the democracy who because of their faith in God treat their fellow citizens with respect, care for the unfortunate and integrity of life. The place of religion within a democracy is a complex question but it ought to be true that there is a place for the exercise not only of the majority religion of the citizens, but also the reality of religious freedom for the minority Minkenberg, When both are properly exercised there is compatibility between Islam and democracy.

These two ideologies may work in concert to create healthy and flourishing cultures. Houeyda, Fereydoun. Minkenberg, Michael. March 30, Accessed: December 26, Tibi, Bassam. In a democracy, everyone has the right to equal treatment. Such cannot be found in Islamic countries as women are suppressed. Equality cannot exist if the society favors only the voices of men. There is the mandate to convert, kill, or tax for non-muslims, leaving one no other choice but to submit to one of these mandates.

Democracy means respect and tolerance on both sides. Where is the democracy in that? So clear not in theory. If you look at what is happening in the muslim dominated countries you will hardly find any country that is even moderately tolerant to other systems. One exception is Turkey but there too you will find the incompatibility with true democracy. Since the last 15 to 20 years we have seen the will of the people ignored, we have seen Bush come to power despite losing the election, we have seen Blair send British troops to die in Iraq despite the millions that took to the streets.

Here in the UK we have 3 main parties who all stand for the same thing, there simply isnt any choice. This is why people are siding with extreme and neo Nazis all over the West. I dont think Islam is the answer either but I would say a good Dictator is better than a bad Democratically elected corrupt Politician. By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.

Google Search. Post Your Opinion. Create New Poll. Sign In Sign Up. Add a New Topic. Can Islam and democracy coexist? Democracy , Pakistan , Politics. It is possible for Islam and democracy to exist In an ideal democracy, people are allowed to retain their cultural and religious beliefs while peacefully coexisting with others who may not share the same beliefs.

These examples may not offer a blueprint for the mostly undemocratic Arab world. But their success does offer welcome evidence that Islam and democracy can coexist, maybe even integrate. Indonesia's emergence as a peaceful democracy is notable because its past has not always been free of violence or manipulation. When I worked as a correspondent in Indonesia in the s, the Army put down a communist-triggered coup and wrought terrible vengeance across the Indonesian archipelago.

Estimates of the death toll rose as high as 1 million people. My own estimate was about , An investigating commission reporting to President Sukarno listed 78, people dead — a dreadfully inaccurate figure that was offered up, a source told me, because "We gave Sukarno the figures we thought he wanted to hear.

Indonesia's travail continued under the man who deposed him, General Suharto. Yet today, Indonesia has become a country of order and promise. India is currently conducting its 15th national election since achieving independence in Indians proudly proclaim the process to be the "world's biggest exercise in democracy. Months ago, Mr. Obama said he wanted to make a major address in an Islamic capital early in his presidency.

He hasn't done that yet, but it is no surprise that he chose Turkey for his "the US is not at war with Islam" speech. Turkey has proved, as Steven Cook , a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations , once said, "that you can have a democracy in a Muslim-majority country. There have been spats between Turkey and the US. Turkey barred US forces from using its territory as a launching pad for the war against Saddam Hussein. But Obama's visit was well received, and the US considers Turkey a useful potential interlocutor in the various challenges of the Middle East — a role that Turkey appears ready to assume.

Though Indonesia, India, and Turkey, each in their different ways, present welcome examples of compatibility between Islam and democracy, it is often democracy molded to accommodate local cultures and customs. It is freedom, but not necessarily democracy as defined in Washington or the capitals of western Europe. John Hughes , a former editor of the Monitor, won a Pulitzer Prize in for his coverage of Indonesia.