Is Islam compatible with western style democracy?”
Question: Is Islam compatible with western style democracy? I’ve decided through my reading that it is not, primarily because of it’s isolationist social structure and it'[s inability to separate the religious from the legal structure, but am interested in the opinions of others on this, especially of Muslim scholars. Answer: There is some degree of compatibility between western-style democracy and Islam, but I don’t think it’s totally compatible. It seems that some predominantly Islamic nations have attained a level of democracy. Turkey is often seen as the poster-child for this type of integration, although it’s not really the same what I view as a traditional western-style democracy. Turkey has a parliament and a President, much like the UK/US system of politics. I feel the level that Turkey has achieved with this Islamic democracy is largely due to the centuries of western influence. Turkey historically was under Roman-Catholic guidance, and therefore the version of Islam practiced
Yes it is compatible. In Western style democracy their should be a separation between church and state. Therefore it really shouldn’t matter what religion people are because religion should not have anything to do with policy. Hard line conservative scholars, politicians, and media may try to convince people that Islam and democracy are incompatible in order to advance the “Clash of Civilizations” belief. Conservatives use this to justify intrusive involvement in middle eastern affairs.
I’ve decided through my reading that it is not, primarily because of it’s isolationist social structure and it'[s inability to separate the religious from the legal structure, but am interested in the opinions of others on this, especially of Muslim scholars. Answer: There is some degree of compatibility between western-style democracy and Islam, but I don’t think it’s totally compatible. It seems that some predominantly Islamic nations have attained a level of democracy. Turkey is often seen as the poster-child for this type of integration, although it’s not really the same what I view as a traditional western-style democracy. Turkey has a parliament and a President, much like the UK/US system of politics. I feel the level that Turkey has achieved with this Islamic democracy is largely due to the centuries of western influence. Turkey historically was under Roman-Catholic guidance, and therefore the version of Islam practiced in that nation perhaps isn’t as “radical” as in some other
