Can the Islamic World and democracy
coexist?
By: Hemal Dhanjee
The Islamic World
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Islamic based countries throughout the world
Comprised of 55 nations, 1.4 billion people
(Almost 1/3 of the world’s population)
The Heart of the Islamic world is the Middle
East
Some Islamic countries are located in parts
of Northern Africa, and small parts of Asia
The Islamic World and
democracy
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“Can the Islamic World and
democracy coexist?” has been asked
for many years.
Significant through 9/11
Democracy building remains an
uphill struggle for many Muslim
countries
Currently, there are no Islamic
countries that are a full-fledged
democracy
Questions
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Is democracy strictly a Western concept?
Does Muslim fundamentalism destroy all
aspects of democracy?
Can Islamic society live safely and
harmoniously under the rule of
authoritative regimes?
Are Muslim extremists holding back the
Islamic World from democratizing?
Does the Qur’an and Shari’a law preach
“undemocratic behaviour”?
Thesis
The Islamic World and
democracy cannot coexist
because of the prevalence of
corrupt governments,
conservative Islam’s disregard
for human rights, and the grip
of influence that Muslim
extremists have on the
development of Islam.
Arguments
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The prevalence of corrupt governments in
Islamic dominated countries makes democracy
building difficult
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The Islamic world is fundamentally undemocratic
because the beliefs and ideologies of
conservative Muslim’s are opposed to the
democratic value of human rights

Democracy cannot prevail in the Islamic World
because of the strong influence that Muslim
extremists have on society.
Islam and democracy cannot coexist because of the prevalence
of corrupt governments, conservative Islam’s disregard for
human rights, and the grip of influence that Muslim
extremists have on the development of Islam .
Argument 1: The prevalence of corrupt
governments.
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Most Muslim countries = dysfunctional, corrupt, repressive
states are neither willing nor capable of reform.
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elites and tribal/traditional leaders usually keep a
monopoly over state power.
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Countries like Afghanistan cannot democratize by
themselves because the only candidates they can vote for
are corrupt.
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Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Palestine, former Iraq
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Can corruption and democracy really work?
Islam and democracy cannot coexist because of the prevalence
of corrupt governments, Conservative Islam’s disregard for
human rights, and the grip of influence that Muslim
extremists have on the development of Islam.
Argument 2: Conservative Islam’s disregard for human
rights
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World of Islam is dominated by Conservative Muslims = Muslims who
have a medieval interpretation of the Qur’an and Sharia law (Not
open to change)
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The Muslim world cannot be democratic until it reforms its position
on women.
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Conservative Muslims are reluctant to practice basic human rights
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They objected to several articles of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR)
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Equality of marriage rights (Muslim-non-Muslim marriage is
forbidden)
Freedom to change ones religion or belief
Equality of gender roles and obligations
How can the Islamic World be democratic if there is such a strong
belief against Human Rights?
Islam and democracy cannot coexist because of the prevalence
of corrupt governments, conservative Islam’s disregard for
human rights, and the grip of influence that Muslim
extremists have on the development of Islam.
Argument 3: The grip of influence that
Muslim extremists have on the
development of Islam.
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Islamic extremists are growing in popularity
•
Terrorist groups (al-Qaeda) are antithetical to
democratic values
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Terrorist Organization’s focus on religious zeal to
appeal to the masses.
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Belief that dictatorship is good  Allows
terrorist groups to take advantage.
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Example: Terrorist organization “Hamas” elected
party of Palestine.
Doesn’t democracy look bleak if terrorist
organizations are gaining responsible roles in
government?
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Counter Arguments
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Women are slowly, but surely, being liberated and
granted human rights they have never had before.
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Even though conservative Muslims are having a strong
impact on the Islamic World, reformist and secular
Muslims are gaining a stronger voice.
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Terrorist Organizations can provide for the
betterment of society once they are given political
power.
(Hamas’ new democratic outlook seems promising. Not only was this
the first time that Hamas participated in elections, but they
campaigned entirely on an anticorruption, social services and
assertive nationalism plan. )
Works Cited
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Aisha Ahmad. Warload Democracy in Afghanistan. 2005. 26
Feb. 2007.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_ahmad/20050721.ht
ml
Brian Handwerk. Can Islam and Democracy Coexist? 2003. 17
Feb. 07.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1021_0
31021_islamicdemocra
cy.html
Hearnden, Alexis. Islam and Democracy. 29 June 2006. 19 Mar.
2007
<http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topi
cID=253>.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Beyond the Headlines: The
Hamas Democracy Hypocrisy. 28 Sep. 2005. 19 Mar. 2007
<http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+th
e+Headlines/Hama
s+kidnaps+and+slays+Jerusalem+businessman+28-Sep2005.htm>.
Mohadessin, Mohammad. Islamic Fundamentalism. 2003. 19