Abstract:
Compatibility between Islam, the Arab culture and democracy is a topic I insisted to
observe since people around me have been advocating their incompatibility. I have
been intrigued to find the sources of these assumptions. That is why I have
undertaken extensive researches that might allow me to find a possible answer to
my question: is Islam and the Arab culture compatible or not with Democracy?
When I started studying the issue, it became clearer to me that politicians as well as
intellectuals have the accountability of diffusing a certain belief within civil society.
I have discovered that most of our beliefs and thoughts are opinionated and
subjective, and no matter how strongly I believe in what I have in hands today, this
will only be a moderate and objective attempt to explain my views.
The thesis of this research is refuting Orientalist views as well as public opinion
claiming that Arab culture and Islam are incompatible with democracy. If it is not a
matter of culture and religion, then how is it that Arab and/or Muslim countries
have a low level of democracy.
