We tend to interweave east and west without regard to the great divides between the two rather different ways of life. The western ideas of the separation of religion and state are quite different from the Islamic merger of the two. The societies have evolved accordingly. A consequence of that difference is the implications for democracy. The idea of one man-one vote has not worked out too well in Islamic countries. Egypt is a case in point. The direct election produced a majority muslim brotherhood government who were ousted when they tried to mix their brand of religion into the political life. The current military regime will force through a more secular agenda. Neither form captures the imagination of the people who yearn for the basic of economic and social betterment. The era of connectivity has made people more aware of the failings and less accepting of the status quo. So turmoil will continue to wrack most Muslim countries until they evolve a more receptive system pertinent to their particular social evolution and build institutions that reflect those values. The system that evolves might be a hybrid like Israel.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 03:53:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015