Compatibility between democracy, Islam and the Arab culture. (c2008)

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.