Decline of Muslim States and Societies: The Real Root Causes and What Can Be Done Next

Any discussion about Islam these days bring about deep passions, both overt and latent. On both sides of the divide, the main common factor is that of fear. Apparently, this antagonism is between unequals. One side claims technological and material prowess within a civilized society while the other claims righteousness of their cause and the spirit of their faith. All this has given rise to the phenomenon of "global heating" that has elevated the global temperature in terms of fear, intolerance, terrorism, and open warfare.

Misbah Islam obtained his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Lahore, Pakistan, and his graduate and doctorate degrees from the UK. After working in the IT practice and teaching in Pakistan in 1982, he joined the diaspora to the West. After a brief teaching period at the Acadia University in Canada, he worked in the telecommunication industry. In 2001, he resumed teaching at the University of Ottawa, Canada. For a long time he was intrigued by the reasons behind the sterile predicament of Muslim societies. Influenced by events of the recent past, he began investigating application of different methodologies to issues in history and social engineering. His appreciation of the characteristics of Muslim societies facilitated a synergistic approach to the understanding of the complex problems and methods of their solution. His wife, Nigar, has been a medical practitioner. His two sons are working as medical professionals in Canada.