Democracy and Islam

Journal article

Ahmad, Irfan. (2011). Democracy and Islam. Philosophy and Social Criticism. 37(4), pp. 459 - 470. https://doi.org/10.1177/0191453711400996
AuthorsAhmad, Irfan
Abstract

The dominant debate on Islam and democracy continues to operate in the realm of normativity. This article engages with key literature showing limits of such a line of inquiry. Through the case study of India’s Islamist organization, Jamaat-e-Islami, I aim at shifting the debate from textual normativity to demotic praxis. I demonstrate how Islam and democracy work in practice, and in so doing offer a fresh perspective to enhance our understandings of both Islam and democracy. A key proposition of this article is that rather than discussing the cliché if Islam is compatible with democracy, or Islam should be democratized, we study the ‘hows’ of de-democratization in Muslim societies.

Year2011
JournalPhilosophy and Social Criticism
Journal citation37 (4), pp. 459 - 470
PublisherSage Publications Ltd.
ISSN0191-4537
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0191453711400996
Scopus EID2-s2.0-79957946804
Page range459 - 470
Research GroupInstitute for Religion, Politics, and Society
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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