Islam and Democracy

Professor John Dunn, Cambridge University
"There could hardly be a more inflammatory political topic at present...a really valuable work on the subject."

James Piscatori, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
"...Takes us well beyond the case of Algeria and persuasively highlights the no less uncertain predicament of Muslim societies everywhere."

Book Description
During the late twentieth century, many authoritarian states underwent a dramatic transition to democracy. This book examines the process of democratic reform in Muslim countries, the problems it throws up and the cultural ideas and practices that prevail. Concentrating in particular on Algeria, and using extensive on-the-ground research, Frédéric Volpi offers a unique insight into the political history of the Algerian conflict and raises serious questions about the relationship between Islam and democracy on an international level. Addressing the problem of the radicalization of political Islam in the region, he suggests possible solutions to the security and foreign policy dilemmas linked to international terrorism. A bitter battle has been fought between the secular state and the Islamic fundamentalists in Algeria since the 1980s. It's a paradigmatic "clash of civilizations" for some, while for others it is a distorted and local crisis in which "democratization" was introduced in a deeply authoritarian civil context. Looking in particular at the role of oil resources, which give Algeria great international geo-strategic and economic importance, Volpi explores Algeria's political transition -- a story which continues to have immense potential significance for other non-democractic Muslim countries.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

During the late twentieth century, many authoritarian Islamic states underwent a dramatic transition to democracy. This book examines the process of democratic reform in Islamic countries, the problems it throws up and the cultural ideas and practices that prevail. Concentrating in particular on Algeria, and based on extensive on-the-ground research, Volpi offers a unique insight into the political history of the Algerian conflict and raises serious questions about the relationship between Islam and democracy on an international level.Addressing the problem of the radicalization of political Islam in the region, he suggests possible solutions to the security and foreign policy dilemmas linked to international terrorism. A bitter battle has been fought between the civil state and the Islamic fundamentalists in Algeria since the 1980s. It's a paradigmatic "clash of civilizations" for some, whilst for others it's a distorted and local crisis in which "democratization" was introduced in a deeply authoritarian context. Looking in particular at the role of oil resources, which give Algeria great international geo-strategic and economic importance, Volpi explores Algeria's political transition — a story which continues to have immense potential significance for other non-democractic Muslim countries.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices