Muslim American University Students’ Perceptions of Islam and Democracy: Deconstructing the Dichotomy

Abstract

The aftermath of 9/11 and the current surge of revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East have caused Muslim Americans to be either demonized or forgotten altogether, despite the significance of their everyday navigation of both Islamic and democratic values and unique efforts toward identity construction. The neglect of the Muslim American individual experience in the dominant discourse on Islam and democracy has stifled the voices of members of this marginalized population, thereby limiting their self-representation. Through the use of a phenomenological framework and Critical Discourse Analysis, this study complicates the dominant discourses on Islam and democracy by shedding light on the lived experiences of seven Muslim American university students and providing supplemental perspectives from their university professors. These participants constructed an alternative discourse that positioned the Islamic and democratic values of equality, respect, freedom, and education as compatible, albeit with some complications. The article concludes with suggestions toward better understanding and enactment of Islamic and democratic values, including attaining education and engaging in civic participation.