Islam and Democracy

Religious resurgence and democratization have been two of the most significant developments of the last quarter of the twentieth century. Frequently they work together; other times they are at odds. In the muslim world, this relationship is of special importance because of the strength of the Islamic resurgence, and the intensity of muslim demands for greater popular participation in political processes Esposito and Voll use six case studies to look at the history of this relationship and the role played by new Islamic movements. At one end of the spectrum, Iran and Sudan represent two cases of militant, revolutionary Islam opposing the political system. In Algeria and Malaysia however, the new movements have been legally recognized and made part of the political process. The authors identify several important factors, such as the legality or illegality of the new Islamic movements and the degree to which they cooperate with existing rulers, as being key to understanding the success or failure of these movements. Still, the case studies prove that despite the commonalities, differing national contexts and identities give rise to differences in agenda and method. This broad Spectrum of experience contains important lessons for understanding this complex and subtle relationship, and will also provide insight into the powerful forces of religion and democracy in a broader global context.

Religion & Spirituality

Esposito, John L.

Voll, John O.

Islam

Oxford University Press

In this timely and important work, John Esposito and John Voll explore the development of contemporary Islamic movements and thought through the biographies of nine major activist intellectuals who represent a wide range of Muslim societies. Many Muslims have combined revivalist activism with intellectual efforts, but only a few have achieved significant international visibility and influence. By examining the lives and work of nine such internationally recognized figures, Esposito and Voll provide a new understanding of the intellectual foundations of contemporary Islamic awareness and politics. Included are profiles of: Ismail Ragi al-Faruqi (U.S./Palestine), Khurshid Ahmad (India/Pakistan), Maryam Jameelah (U.S./Pakistan), Hasan Hanafi (Sudan), Rashid Ghannoushi (Tunisia), Hasan al-Turabi (Sudan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia), and Abdurrahman Wahid (Indonesia). These thinkers contributed to some of the most significant intellectual and activist developments in the Muslim world during the 1980s and 1990s--the period during which Islamic movements became a major force in Muslim societies and international affairs. They helped to organize and lead the movements of Islamic renewal and provided the conceptual foundations for the programs those movements advocate. Together, they represent a distinctive phase in the evolution of Islamic thinking: the ongoing effort to create an effective synthesis of modernity and Islamic tradition. Their work supplies the core of the Islamic resurgence of the1990s and the foundation for what it can become in the twenty-first century.

Makers of Contemporary Islam

Biographies & Memoirs

Leaders & Notable People

The landscape of the Middle East has changed dramatically since 2011, as have the political arena and the discourse around democracy. In Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring, John L. Esposito, John Voll, and Tamara Sonn examine the state of democracy in Muslim-majority societies today. Applying a twenty-first century perspective to the question of whether Islam is "compatible" with democracy, they redirect the conversation toward a new politics of democracy that transcends both secular authoritarianism and Political Islam. While the opposition movements of the Arab Spring vary from country to country, each has raised questions regarding equality, economic justice, democratic participation, and the relationship between Islam and democracy in their respective countries. Does democracy require a secular political regime? Are religious movements the most effective opponents of authoritarian secularist regimes? Esposito, Voll, and Sonn examine these questions and shed light on how these opposition movements reflect the new global realities of media communication and sources of influence and power. Positioned for a broad readership of scholars and students, policy-makers, and media experts, Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring will quickly become a go-to for all who watch the Middle East, inside and outside of academia.

Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring

History

Sonn, Tamara

World

The Eighteenth Century: A World History (New Oxford World History)

Business & Money

Economics

The Islamic revival in recent decades has generated a growth industry in books and periodical literature on contemporary Islam. This partially annotated bibliography lists available literature on the Islamic revival published in English between 1970 and 1988. Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and her colleagues also provide background information and a special bibliography on women, Islamic banking, and Muslims in Europe and the United States.
Three introductory chapters provide an overview of the field of Islamic revival studies from varying perspectives. The bibliography includes academic and primary sources, many of which have been annotated. Some pre-1970 entries are included since they are the only available sources on particular subjects. Many entries are classified according to geographical areas and subdivided by specific country when appropriate. For comparative studies of international scope, entries on activities in China, the Soviet Union, parts of Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are included, as well as entries on Muslims in Europe and North America, and Islamic institutions in the West. This work is an important reference tool for students and scholars of Islam and the Middle East.

The Contemporary Islamic Revival: A Critical Survey and Bibliography (Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies)

Reference

Haddad, Yvonne Y.

Catalogs & Directories

Greenwood

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Books by Voll, John O.