Or are the principles of Islam antithetical to democracy and the general freedoms that go with it.
2007-11-09 05:27:43 · 11 answers · asked by Stephen L 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Those people who say that Turkey is a functioning democracy have either never been to Turkey, only been there on holiday or are quoting the newspapers. Outside the big city it is a tribal backwater. That's not unusual though, most large countries have this problem, even the so-called democracies.
Places like Jordan and Qatar are giant industrial complexes built around little communities. Many people there are ex-pats working in the industries with few rights. Whether or not it's a problem of Islam, the general mind-set in the middle-east is alien to Western notions. Democracy might come, but it might not be democracy as we know it.
2007-11-09 11:43:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It'll require a shift in mindset among the people of those countries, but yes I think it is possible. It's been working in Turkey for quite some time now, after all. Think about it this way- the original Christian Churches were the original Communists. They actually lived in Communes, and shared everything equally, before the rise of the Catholic Church. If Democracy and Capitalism can function in Christian Nations, then there's no reason they couldn't work for Muslims too.
2007-11-09 13:59:08 · answer #2 · answered by Beardog 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the country! Turkey is closest to the west so it has characteristics of western european style republican government.
Now not all governments in the middle east who don't follow this model are bad to their people; look at Dubai, Qatar and Jordan, they are modern in their ways, have high per-capita incomes and are decent to their subjects including woman, they are absolute monarchies: If this works for them then we should respect that.
Now there is also the more hardline governments of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia who have checkered human rights records, a friend who lived and did business there said he was invited by the Saudi King to witness a public be-heading and women live in practically second class to slave status.
Muslim women say there is nothing in the Koran to really justify this, that it is all really outdated tribal traditions, sometimes based on convenient interpretations of the Koran.
2007-11-09 13:49:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jorge D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nice name.
Yes, but do we want Democracy in some of these countries. If you have a country filled with people who hate us, and it's a Democratic country, you end up with a government which tries to destroy us.
Edit: Freedom has nothing to do with Democracy, except freedom to vote for ever you want. If you look at how Bush handled the Iraq election, he said you can vote for who ever you want, then ban certain people from being elected. Democracy is abouts peoples choice. If the people wants to give up their rights, its still their choice. I would like to see Mussaraf stay in office, rather than let the people choose. I'm sure most people in Pakistan is fine, but I have no faith in the people in the North Western side of Pakistan.
2007-11-09 13:41:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just look at Turkey - it's been democratic since 1923, not a vastly long time; but certainly long enough for democracy to become well-established. There was a time when democracy was though to be a fluke government and monarchy was the standard issue.
2007-11-09 13:36:33 · answer #5 · answered by Mordent 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Turkey has accompished it, and Pakistan is pretty close. They even had a woman prime minister (Bhotta).
And in other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, they are beginning to have elections for mayor and other local offices.
Do you remember the images of the Iraqi people with the purple fingers on election day? Once the people get a taste of democracy, they will never go back.
2007-11-09 13:37:18 · answer #6 · answered by Rick K 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Any democracy has the dilemma, that a majority will try to take away the rights of a minority.
This is why you have a constitution, that limits the power of the people, so that the majority cannot take away the freedom of religion.
2007-11-09 13:32:07 · answer #7 · answered by Darth Vader 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
yup. look at Jordan... and Syria is somewhat close though their president is a little less democratic. If we weren't funding so many dictatorships, maybe things would work out better there.
2007-11-09 13:45:44 · answer #8 · answered by MrPotatoHead 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same argument was made about Europeans just 60 years ago.
2007-11-09 13:35:23 · answer #9 · answered by floatingbloatedcorpse 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, because the government is based on religion run by religious zealots!
2007-11-09 13:31:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋