Democracy in Islam

Challenging the view of Islamic extremists and critics of Islam, this book explores the very topical issue of Islam’s compatibility with democracy. It examines:

• principles of Islam's political theory and the notion of democracy therein
• the notion of democracy in medieval and modern Muslim thought
• Islam and human rights
• the contribution of Islamic legal ideas to European legal philosophy and law.

The book addresses the pressing need for a systematic show of an Islamic politics of human rights and democracy grounded in the Qur’an. The West wonders about Islam and human rights, and its own ability to incorporate Muslim minority communities. Many Muslims also seek to find within Islam support source for democratic governance and human rights.

Sayed Khatab is a Research Fellow in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University, Australia. His recent publications include The Political Thought of Sayyid Qutb: The Theory of Jahiliyyah (Routledge, 2006) and The Power of Sovereignty: The Political and Ideological Philosophy of Sayyid Qutb (Routledge, 2006).

Gary D. Bouma is UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations - Asia Pacific at Monash University, Australia. His research examines the management of religious diversity in plural multiculturalism societies, postmodernity as a context for doing theology, and religion and public policy.