|
|
Dear Members and Friends of CSID:
Welcome to our new CSID Bulletin! We hope you like the new design and find it more convenient and easier to use. This SPECIAL issue of the bulletin contains the first 6 papers that were presented at our 9th Annual Conference, which was held on May 14, 2008, in Washington DC. The remaining excellent and thought-provoking papers will be sent in the coming bulletins.
|
|
Why Jihad and not Democracy
Nelly Lahoud
 The jihadis have adopted a cynical attitude to the moral and governance codes, as conceived by humankind. They do not believe that universal human values are neutral; if relations among humans are the prerogative of mortal authorities, then these authorities ensure that their edicts are designed to serve the interests of the stronger. Since democracy is a system of governance conceived by men, the jihadis perceive it as providing justice only for the West and meting out injustice to the Islamic world. Because they see themselves defending Muslims against the aggression of the West, they declare democracy as antithetical to the teachings of Islam. Consequently, Muslims who take part in the democratic process are necessarily collaborating with the West against the interests of their fellow Muslims, and are to be fought until they change their ways.
|
The Sovereignty of God
Constitutional Processes in Islam and Christianity
Mark Gould
Some argue that Shari'a can function as a constitution in Islamic states, promoting good and forbidding evil, ensuring, when embodied institutionally, that legislation is in accord with Muslim precepts. Such a view runs counter to post-Enlightenment legal positivism, where constitutional provisions are reduced to procedures, and where parliaments, perhaps representing the people, may pass any law that is justified procedurally. I argue that the positivist position is misguided, that valid laws must be both procedurally justified and legitimated in light of constitutional values, where the procedures themselves are legitimate. Bio & Abstract Full Paper
|
The Draft Party Platform of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood
Amr Hamzawy
 We offer some observations about the Muslim Brotherhood's experience with drafting a party platform and demonstrate how its goals have only been partly met. Ultimately, the integration of the Muslim Brotherhood as a normal political actor will depend not only on the movement's words but also on the deeds of a regime that seems increasingly hostile to the Brotherhood's political role.
|
The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria and the concept of Democracy
Radwan Ziadeh
 Here, there is a clear transformation in the political thinking mechanism of the most prominent Syrian Islamic movement, especially in terms of its acceptance of a democratic principle and peaceful rotation of power, and moving to work as a civic political party with an Islamic background or authority, as is the case with democratic Christian groups in Europe.
|
Demystifying the Positions of the Muslim Brotherhood toward Democracy
Najib Ghadbian
We cannot understand the position of the Brotherhood toward democracy unless we examine its shifting discourse, which in turn requires contextualizing the debate within the following factors. First, the disagreements over the mentioned controversies reflect the continuing internal debate between the ideologues and pragmatists within the movement. Multiple interpretations among various branches of the movement in other Arab countries further complicate the articulation of an official position. Second, the debate over democracy is taking place within an increasingly domestic repressive political environment, justified within the pretext of the war on terrorism. Third, the liberal secular political opponents of the Brotherhood have joined forces with the repressive Arab regimes to exclude Islamists from the political process; hence, this heightened the political polarization in each country. Fourth, the failed efforts and the recent retreat of the international efforts in democracy promotion have discredited the prospects for democracy in the region. It is unlikely to expect the Brotherhood to develop a liberal democratic outlook while regimes and other political forces are not willing to abide to the same democratic rules. Bio & Abstract Full Paper
|
How to Encourage and Support Muslim Democrats
Carl Gershman
 As we all know, we're now in a very difficult period. Civil Society NGOs, democracy activists, independent journalists and bloggers in many countries are being hit from one side by what is called the backlash against democracy - restrictions on the right of association, barriers to free expression, harassment and arrest, legal actions such as those being taken against our friend Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his Ibn Khaldun Center, blockages against the receipt of international assistance, and so forth. On the other side they are coming up against what Steve Heydemann has called "authoritarian upgrading," a kind of Middle East version of the Russian "managed democracy" where the government opens a controlled political space to appear democratic, but is calling all the shots. And there is unquestionably a weakening of US and Western support, brought on by the fear that Islamists might take advantage of a democratic political opening, and the way rulers like Mubarak and others in essentially authoritarian and semi-authoritarian countries play upon that fear.
Bio & Abstract Full Paper
|
|
|
|
You may also download the conference booklet (All bios and abstracts - 1.3 MB) and the conference proceedings (All the papers - 1.4 MB). We look forward to hearing from you, and please do not forget to renew your membership and support CSID for 2008 by clicking here. Your memberships fees and donations allow CSID to continue its mission of promoting democracy in the Muslim world and educating Americans - and American policy makers - about Islam and the Muslim world. With our best wishes and regards,
Sincerely,
|
Radwan A. Masmoudi
President
Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy |
|
|
