A Historical Context for Middle Eastern Democracy
Thomas Moore Thursday, 16 September 2010
Following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi people embarked upon a great experiment in democracy—the success or failure of which will have profound consequences not only for Iraq but for Muslim-majority societies in general. While the outcome of Iraq's laborious democratic endeavor has yet to be determined, it will provide tangible evidence for one of today's most important debates: Can liberal democracy work in a society molded by Islam?
Bernard Lewis, long recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on Islam, addresses this critical question in his most recently published volume. While those already familiar with his work will find little new in this book, this collection of Lewis' writings on religion, government, and politics in the Middle East offers broad yet incisive analysis.
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