Can Democracy And Islam Go Together - 2560 Words

Abigail Adler Professor Luders Fundamentals of Political Science Final Research Essay Can Democracy and Islam Go Together? The implication that the principles of Islam clash with the principles of democracy is very apparent in the Western world, especially after the Jihadist terrorist attacks that took place on September 1st, 2001. Americans tend to view Islam as a violent, savage religion that cannot go along with democratic values. Because Islam is related to terrorism and much of the Arab world is non-democratic, it seems like Islam is the reason. Is this view of Islam accurate, or is it distorted? Some argue that Islam places political power in the hands of God, so when it comes down to it, Islam must be represented in a totalitarian regime. Others argue that in reality, the Islam is not antidemocratic; rather, historical and economic factors are the reason behind the lack of democratic regimes in the Arab world. Accordingly, proponents of this view suggest that it really depends on how the Islamic text is interpreted. By contrast, I suggest t hat the text is not the important factor; what really matters are Muslims opinions of democracy. Through the analysis of secondary sources and public opinion surveys, I argue that Islam is not the main obstacle that hinders the Arab world from democratization. Contrary to popular belief among Americans, a large percentage of Muslims around the world actually support democracy. Pew Research CenterShow MoreRelatedDemocracy And The Struggles Of The West903 Words   |  4 Pagesever thought about the list of components that go into a good essay? In fact a good essay addresses the main point and tells the reader what he or she will discuss and where they are going with it. An essay will also state the main ideas clearly. As writers we tend to sometimes use or leave out these important factors. Two authors by the names of Julius Nyerere and Benazir Bhutto; wrote two essays based on the topic of democracy and the struggles that go along with it. Nyerere’s essay titled One-PartyRe ad MoreEssay about Religious Conflicts with the Iranian Government1545 Words   |  7 Pages The middle-east has always been a hot zone for religious and political conflict but more specifically, Iran. Iran is an Islamic state where Islam is practiced within politics. The Constitution of 1979 runs off of the basis of Islamic Law. The population of Iran varies upon resources but they are all around the number of seventy million people. The country is 90 percent Shia Muslim and eight-percent Sunni Muslim.1 The rest of the country is made up of very small minority religions. The minorityRead MoreEssay Understanding Islamic Religion and Culture1221 Words   |  5 Pagesimperative that we understand and respect their traditions. The paper examines exactly what Islam is, the relation between the Islam faith and Christian faith, and uncovering some aspects to their religion. Also, I will be hitting on the topic of the turmoil the Islam face in their surroundings of the Middle East and their Islamic faith. First, it would be wise to understand what Islam is. The term, Islam, actually means â€Å"Submission to God.† Their principles of their religion might seem abnormalRead MoreThe Battle Of Civilizations By Samuel P. Huntington1302 Words   |  6 Pagesimposed on Africa and European colonization led to Sudan and South Sudan to be linked together. Also, their Eastern neighbor Somalia is having difficulty in forging a national identity after gaining its independence from Britain and Italy in 1960. Edward W. Said, very critical of Huntington’s article, argues that Islam and the West are not two separate entities in global politics. â€Å"No, the West is the West, and Islam Islam. â€Å"(2), â€Å"The Clash of Ignorance,† contests the grouping and simplicity of the twoRead MoreIsis Existence Of The Middle East1378 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpretation of Islam and promotes religious violence. ISIS has been on a running climb to power and control in the Middle East. The rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamist militant group that has took over huge parts of land stretching from northern Syria to central Iraq, and it has struck fear into the hearts of leaders around the world. The main reason ISIS is so terrifying and trending the world right now is because that the group ISIS aims to bring back the early days of Islam, rejectingRead MoreCauses of Unrest in the Middle East Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Causes of Unrest in the Middle East The causes of unrest in the Middle East are historical, religious, economic and geo-political. Ancient history and ancient civilizations can serve as a framework for understanding some of the existing enmity. For example, the Persians (Iranians) and the Babylonians (Iraqis) have been fighting for more than 3,000 years. However, the current unrest in the Middle East is the result of Western ethno-centrism and colonialism (covert and overt), combined withRead MoreIslam : The Faces Of An Islamic State Essay3358 Words   |  14 PagesIntent â€Å"Islam: The Faces of an Islamic State† The objective of this research paper is to examine literature to gain an enlightened perspective into the idea of the â€Å"Islamic State† in regards to the Middle East and other traditionally Islamic territories. To gain this insight the theories and ideas of noted Islamic scholars like Maududi, Tahtawi will be probed and analyzed. Tahtawi in particular is a scholar of importance in regard to the idea of the nationalism and the â€Å"nation state† in Islam. The ideasRead MoreIslam and Democracy: Can They Coincide?1954 Words   |  8 PagesThis leads one to ask the question Can Islam and a democracy coinside together? Democracy gives power to the people and in that power the people can elect and choose a politician to represent the people and not just Islam. Before one answers that question there are several factors into why it has been an uphill battle for Muslim countries to build a successful democratic government. History shows Muslim countries have lived in non de mocratic states, so democracy is completely unfilmilrue and the peopleRead MoreThe Speech Of The Inaugural Address980 Words   |  4 PagesEast. The actions taken by the Bush administration were justified in order â€Å"to change the Middle East so as to deny support for militant Islam by pressuring or transforming the nations and transnational systems that support it†(qtd. in Burnett). This is in contrast to Kennedy’s point of view, who believed we should focus on the world and try and change so we can better with it.â€Å"We observe today not a victory of a party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signifyingRead MoreA Girl Stands At The Gate Of The Happiest Place1601 Words   |  7 Pagesits history, knowing she cannot go in, she is standing on the border of Iran. Fearing for their lives, her family left Iran during the Islamic Revolution. They will never be able to return, for fear that the government will impriso n and execute them for treason. The place this girl grew up in, the home she loved, no longer exists – what stands there now is a war-torn facade of what used to be. She can stand on the mountaintop and gaze at its beauty, but she cannot go inside. As in this example, after