bismihi Ta’ala
assalam o alaikum …
i just finished reading Noah Feldmans work ‘After Jihad’, which to say the least, a work that offered a perspective, curtailed and set aside notions that Islam and the principle of Democracy are not compatible.
i got intrested in this work, when i found out that he engaged in a dialogue with Hamza Yusuf, on the topic of Islam and Democracy. i wanted to read his work first before i ventured to see the DVD, which is available from any Islamic Vendor.
other than myopic reasoning of a grand theory of Imperialistic Endeavors, are there other reasons that come to mind for the US direct involvement in Iraq? the book lays down clearly the very different types of democracy that tend to exist (US, Canada, Great Britian), and also the different types of rulers that exist among Muslim nations. autocratic, monarchy, dictators, constitutional monarchy, are some of the terms that he explores.
he covers the rise of the Islamic and Islamist groups in the Muslim Countries, from Turkey to Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and let us not forget Pakistan, Syria and Libya! the
book covers Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan in detail, along with Iraq.
the last few chapters are worth the read, for the book is divided into three portions (a) exploring themes that are common from the perspective of governance between the Islamic and the Democratic SYstem (b) explore how Democracy (or strains of it) have fared in the Islamic Countries (c) the role of the West, particularly the US/Israel in shaping the future of how the state of governance would mould itself in the growing anti American sentiment.
overall, i really enjoyed the book: he is very sympathetic to the opening up of democracy in Islamic Countries, a greater role for Islam, and the Islamists, even at the expense of a greater anti American sentiment, for he more concerned for the long term consequences and not a short term vision.
do share, if you have read the book!
abu Kumayl, [email protected]