Islam and Democracy After the Arab Spring

Esposito, Tamara, and Voll offer context and analysis of the past in an attempt to forecast democracy’s future within Islamic countries in light of the events of the Arab Spring of 2010, when the latest wave of democratizing forces in the Middle East became globally visible. To explore the varying degrees of democracy in Islamic nations, the authors undertake case studies of Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Senegal, Tunisia, and Egypt. Their results will silence those who contend that the Muslim world is an unlikely participant in democratization developments in the 21st century. The authors provide excellent historical background, tracing the contours of each country’s political annals and introducing the important figures, political movements, cultural antecedents, and popular constituencies that make up its political mosaic. Focusing on Islam’s political (or in some cases apolitical) expressions, they present many facets of Islam with balance and insight. This is a detailed picture of democracy as alive and well in majority-Muslim countries, and an excellent text for considering what the future holds for international Islam. (Nov.)