Only about a quarter of Muslim-majority nations have democratic governments
Evidence
On the surface, the perception that Islam is incompatible with democracy may seem justified. After all, democracy has had a rough go of it in many Muslim-majority countries. With decolonization, most Muslim nations shed the yoke of European colonial domination only to find themselves under strong authoritarian regimes ranging from monarchies to military dictatorships. These regimes, past and present, have consistently restricted or outlawed political opposition and violated human rights, including the rights of women and religious minorities. Such regimes continue to be the rule and not the exception. John Esposito estimates that only one in four Muslim-majority nations have some form of democratic government. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 291
Categorization
- DEFINE: Gives a concrete baseline datum (Esposito’s one-in-four estimate) useful as an orientation anchor.
- XREF: connects to: Muslim nations are not unique in struggling with democracy — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 292; Concrete data show Muslim-majority nations integrating modernization and pluralism — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 691; Postwar Muslim-majority nations embraced secular nationalism, contra Orientalist claims — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 310 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Postwar Muslim-majority nations embraced secular nationalism, contra Orientalist claims
#complicates(0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 310 - The twenty-first century’s defining problem may be integrating Muslims into democratic societies
#expands(0.50) - Concrete data show Muslim-majority nations integrating modernization and pluralism
#contradicts(0.40) — Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Global…, 691 - Western claims that Islam blocks democracy mask Islamophobic motives
#responds-to(0.40) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 299