Islam and the Challenge of Democracy: A Boston Review Book

by Abou El Fadl, Khaled; Cohen, Joshua; Chasman, Deborah

• ISBN13: 9780691119380
• ISBN10: 0691119384
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-08
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

The events of September 11 and the subsequent war on terrorism have provoked widespread discussion about the possibility of democracy in the Islamic world. Such topics as the meaning of jihad, the role of clerics as authoritative interpreters, and the place of human rights and toleration in Islam have become subjects of urgent public debate around the world. With few exceptions, however, this debate has proceeded in isolation from the vibrant traditions of argument within Islamic theology, philosophy, and law. Islam and the Challenge of Democracyaims to correct this deficiency. The book engages the reader in a rich discourse on the challenges of democracy in contemporary Islam. The collection begins with a lead essay by Khaled Abou El Fadl, who argues that democracy, especially a constitutional democracy that protects basic individual rights, is the form of government best suited to promoting a set of social and political values central to Islam. Because Islam is about submission to God and about each individual's responsibility to serve as His agent on Earth, Abou El Fadl argues, there is no place for the subjugation to human authority demanded by authoritarian regimes. The lead essay is followed by eleven others from internationally respected specialists in democracy and religion. They address, challenge, and engage Abou El Fadl's work. The contributors include John Esposito, Muhammad Fadel, Noah Feldman, Nader Hashemi, Bernard Haykel, Muqtedar Khan, Saba Mahmood, David Novak, William Quandt, Kevin Reinhart, and Jeremy Waldron.

Table of Contents

Islam and the Challenge of Democracy	3	(49)
Khaled Abou El Fadl
Responses
Change from Within	49	(6)
Nader A. Hashemi
Democracy and Conflict	55	(4)
Jeremy Waldron
The Best Hope	59	(4)
Noah Feldman
The Primacy of Political Philosophy	63	(6)
M. A. Muqtedar Khan
The Importance of Context	69	(5)
A. Kevin Reinhart
Is Liberalism Islam's Only Answer?	74	(4)
Saba Mahmood
Popular Support First	78	(3)
Bernard Haykel
Too Far from Tradition	81	(6)
Mohammad H. Fadel
Revealed Law and Democracy	87	(6)
David Novak
Practice and Theory	93	(8)
John L. Esposito
Islam Is Not the Problem	101	(8)
William B. Quandt
Reply
Khaled Abou El Fadl	109	(20)
Contributors	129	(2)
Index	131