Modernization, Democracy, and Islam

"Modernization, Democracy, and Islam is a remarkable contribution to the ongoing debate about Islam, Islamists, and Muslims. This wide-ranging book, incorporating politics, history, economics, and development issues, makes commendable efforts to explain intricate issues and their interconnections. It does so in a noncontroversial manner, educating readers and reminding them to put things into their multiple contexts."--Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa

The Islamic world has a poor record in terms of modernization and democracy. However, the source of this situation is not religion--Islam--but rather factors including colonialism, international economic and trading systems, and the role of the military, among others. Recognizing these themes allows the consideration of possible remedies for change in the Muslim world. The distinguished scholars contributing to this volume identify key factors, some intrinsic to the Muslim world and some external, that contribute to Islam's current predicament. Contrary to much prevailing thought and opinion, Islam is neither monolithic nor impervious to change. It is neither antidemocratic nor inherently antimodern. Islam itself, as this book shows, is not the root cause of the malaise of the Islamic world.

Shireen T. Hunter is director of the CSIS Islam Program and the author of Islam in Russia (M.E. Sharpe/CSIS, 2004) and The Future of Islam and the West (Praeger/CSIS, 1998) and editor of Islam, Europe’s Second Religion (Praeger/CSIS, 2002). Huma Malik is a fellow in the CSIS Islam Program.