Democracy and Islam: promises and perils for the Arab Spring protests

Abstract

PurposeDemocracy and Islam are both capable of multiple interpretations and applications. Islam possesses ideological resources that provide justification for a wide spectrum of political models. However, the compatibility of Islam and democracy relies on the critical questions of: “whose Islam” and “what Islam,” and “whose democracy” and “what democracy.” The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities and challenges of the recent democratic transitions in the Muslim world.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a discursive essay.FindingsIslamic history has demonstrated that there is no monolithic construal of Islam and politics, and in fact history actually provides hope that a more representative and democratic government might result from the uprisings, with healthier, progressive elements of Islam emerging in ways that were not before possible.Originality/valueWhile other observers have explored the compatibility question of Islam and democracy, very little has been written on the recent political upheavals situating the question within this context.