Pak Tea House » Politics » The state of leadership and democracy in the Muslim world
The state of leadership and democracy in the Muslim world
By Saad Hafiz:
It is a fact that the overwhelming majority of Muslim rulers regard their countries as their personal possessions, to be used as they see fit. This conception of power led in past centuries to kings, controlling their subject’s lives from birth to death. The centuries-old culture of leadership that is ingrained in many Muslim societies has played a disastrous role in keeping most Muslim countries among the poorest in the world. Many Muslim countries also condone the awful treatment of women and minorities.
Also true that nowadays, most Muslim leaders squander their countries’ resources and revenues, leaving the majority of their populations, mired in poverty, disease, hunger, war, and hopelessness. We know of the widespread misuse of oil wealth by rich Muslim nations, including those ruled by tribal dynasties or military, civilian and religious elites. National resources that should be used towards developing human potential are allocated to armament programs and to the spread of a retrogressive Islamic ideology.
History is replete with examples of absolutism and oppression in Muslim countries. We know that absolute monarchs, caudillos and clerical dictatorships thrive in Muslim societies. “Arab Spring”, notwithstanding, there traditionally has been little overt resistance to a military or civilian dictatorship. Muslim societies, particularly of late, have become fertile ground for authoritarian brands of Islam that promise certain austerities and purist doctrines. In this environment, it is tremendous challenge for representative democracy to become entrenched in the Muslim world.
A familiar lament you hear from Muslims is that our leaders are corrupt and inaccessible; that Muslims have borne the brunt of atrocities particularly in the last hundred years from the forced unraveling of the Ottoman empire to Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan in the present day; that Muslims are not in control of their destiny which is effectively controlled by the ruling elite and more so by a perfidious West, which is hell-bent on devouring the resources of Muslim nations. A major cause of the abysmal state of the Muslim world today can be attributed to its capricious and corrupt leadership and a lack of democratic institutions.
A very useful table in the Economist provides readers with a damning indictment of the decades of dictatorial rule among the members of the Arab League. Countries have been compared on the basis of democracy, corruption and press freedom, and have fared embarrassingly badly on each count. For instance, Egypt ranks 138th for democracy, 98th for corruption, and 130th for press freedom. Libya, ruled until very recently by the late Muammar Qadhafi since 1969, ranks 158th, 146th, and 193rd. Yemen, where a revolt is in progress, has been governed by Ali Abdullah Saleh since 1978, and ranks 146th, 146th, and 173rd. Saudi Arabia, unsurprisingly, is placed at 160th for democracy and 178th for press freedom.
On the other hand, there are few cautiously optimistic examples of successful Muslim leaders and secular democracies in Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia. One such example, Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan, on his recent re-election proclaimed “The people gave us a message to build the new constitution through consensus and negotiation. We will bring democracy to an advanced level, widening rights and freedoms”.
Interestingly, the Islamist Erdogan seems reconciled with the secular views of the founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk, who abolished the Ottoman caliphate and established the underpinnings of a secular Turkish democracy, said that “the religion of Islam will be elevated if it will cease to be a political instrument, as had been the case in the past”.
Pakistan’s M.A. Jinnah articulated similar views to Atatürk on the role of political Islam, which to the country’s detriment, have effectively been removed from the political lexicon. With Mr. Jinnah’s passing, his firm belief in human rights, and the rights of women and minorities have also withered away. One can only hope that a new breed of genuinely public-spirited democratic leaders emerge in this key Muslim nation to help revive Jinnah’s dream of a modern State.
There seems little choice but to give leadership and political development in Muslim countries a chance to succeed, although, many in the West may feel that Islam is incompatible with democracy. Muslim modernists would disagree, pointing to examples of leaders and countries, where democracy based on consensus and negotiation is working. There is also evidence that political Islam, given the opportunity to find space through the ballot box, can work within a representative democracy.
Filed under: Politics · Tags: Islam, leadership, Muslim, Saad Hafiz
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[...] The state of leadership and democracy in the Muslim world [...]
Saad Hafiz
Check out this article by İhsam Yilmaz
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-261690-egypt-pakistan-islamic-secularism.html
kaalchakra
thank you. we have to be careful as the pakistani “elite” is very good at presenting its appealing liberal face to visitors like Ihsam while offering lip service to secularism and human rights. The “elite” have a vested interest in protecting the status quo. I contend that it is the Pakistani masses who remain the bulwark against the spread of extremist Islam and will defeat it at the ballot box as has been proven time and again when relatively free elections have been allowed.
Interesting comment!
http://muslimvillage.com/2011/11/02/democracy-in-the-muslim-world/#comments
“There is also evidence that political Islam, given the opportunity to find space through the ballot box, can work within a representative democracy.”
Can the author cite some successful examples.
vish
Erdogan’s Turkey.
to saad
Turkey has become more islamist under Erdogan. He knows how to doubledeal better than earlier turkish leaders. What about Turkey’s treatment of christians, kurds? Turkish ethnofascism is stronger and more subtle than ever before. Erdogan has been recognized as a very sly cunning islamist or crypto-islamist. He can hide his spots better than before – but they can still be seen.
to saad
Islam means submission. Hence islam, as such, is not compatible with democracy. Muslims may or must quietly get rid of many aspects of islam in order to create some democracy to go with islam. But that is a very precarious democracy since any momin muslim can overthrow it with support from the clergy. Democracy is possible only for human beings who are on the one hand self-conscious and not the underlings of any god or his so-called representative or voice or divine book and also ready to look beyond their own selfish desires and needs. Because of islam the muslims are a very timid lot (which explains why there is so much violence and terrorism among muslims). Muslims tend to shirk responsibility by pointing to the 7th century arab god-concept called allah. Hence timidity and lack of democracy is the hall mark of islam and muslims.
Kaalchakra: I have read the article you captioned by Ihsam Yilmaz, a very interesting one I might add, and I wish to repeat a line from that article here which pretty much sums up the whole equation of this conundrum.
“Islamic maxim that humans have a free choice so that they can be tested in this life, these legal opinions should not come as a surprise.”
At birth, God gives us free choice and in this we are endowed with our future which of course influences those around us. Free choice, or free will is a tremendous responsibility. We may use it for good or evil; wiseness or foolishness. Each soul is a part of the other and that we should never forget. We are responsible for the good will of each other so we must be careful just how we use that “free will”.
Lady Guinevere
lady Guinevere (November 3, 2011 at 6:09 pm):
Met has just opened a renewed and much expanded gallery of Islamic Art & History. It covers the vast Islamic heartland. I suggest if possible you should visit it.
PMA….is that an invitation? If Sir Geoffrey does not get his behind in gear real soon and appreciate my many attributes I will be looking for another suitor! Raza has my e-mail address and you may send me your resume to him to forward to me! BTY, I am never against “honest” black money!
Lady Guinevere
lady Guinevere (November 3, 2011 at 6:35 pm):
I am not sure if any of Sir Geoffrey’s work is included in the Met collection. He is an excellent calligrapher and collage maker. Here is what Dr. Marcella Nesom Sirhandi, a professor of art history at Kansas City Art Institute has to say about him:
“Geoffrey never abandoned calligraphy. It has always been a mainstay of his art and no matter how “iconoclastic” he wishes to be, calligraphy prevents his work from becoming non-art and links him to his Pakistani heritage”.
At Met you will see some excellent specimens of Islamic calligraphy. Even better if the Master himself accompanies you to the Met.
Lady
Here is the problem. What you wrote doesn’t require any god, specific book, or any agent of divinity:
“(All of us have) free choice and in this we are endowed with our future which of course influences those around us. Free choice, or free will is a tremendous responsibility. We may use it for good or evil; wiseness or foolishness. Each soul is a part of the other and that we should never forget. We are responsible for the good will of each other so we must be careful just how we use that “free will”.”
Don’t buzz about free will, soul, divinity etc. and try to show off some metaphysics. That is the last thing that Pakistan needs – these debates into meta things and post-mortemia.
First get rid of the primtive fascist ideology from Arabia that is holding you imprisoned in hate, arrogance, self-pity, pretensions of innocence, self-deceits and cowardice about criticism etc.
I wish that Mr Hafiz refrains from making sweeping statements, similar in style though not entirely in substance of Hiobs commentaries. His use of the word ‘fact’, is it equvalent to truth or realiy or is it being assumed as a basis for argumen? Who are the overwhelming majority of muslim rulers who regard their countries as personal possessions……..? Ignorance and pure ignorance about muslim countries, their history and current developments are reflected in the article. The word secularism is completely foreign for the Pakistani elites. All western constitutions are based on the values oIbrahimic religion cultures including that of Islam, the state Govts being secular to the extent that the religion is not under their jurisdiction. Today’s Turkey is ruled by the muslim religious poliitcal party which is planning to amend the so called Ata Turk constituton. The arab youth which initited the revolution in their counties are asking for human dignity and freedom a democracy on the model of current Turkish democracy. Sooner than later this call is to reach the shores of Pakistan which could put an end to the current masquerade of Islam in Pakistan!
Rex Minor
Mr. Hafiz is correct in his historical analysis of Islamic rulers up to the present day. A sorry bunch for sure. And while one can be astonished at the iron fist shown the rulers subjects, THAT is nothing compared to the brutal treatment by Islamic states of Christians who unfortunately live within their borders and have lived there LONG before Islamic aggression and conquest.
Saad cites Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia as being exceptions to the rule, however when it comes to harassing and discriminating against Christians these countries are not as enlightened as he would believe. Although perhaps less conspicuous in their activities, Christians are subject to harsh penalties under the law just for being WHAT they are.
to Gora
Wherever islam became dominant the non-muslims were swallowed or eliminated or made to flee. India was somewhat of an exception in most of its areas.
Islam can be slightly tolerant to the non-muslims, but only after the non-muslims have been reduced to less than 2% of the population and have accepted (with trembling hearts) the totalitarian claims of islam as “truths”.
Muslims must compulsively lie and deny the cruelties in islam and perversions in its history-writing.
Mr Hafiz should also take note of Hiob’s commentry about Islam and muslims, which he very honestly admits is based on Pakistan newspapers publications. Hiob also recognises that arab Islam is foreign in the Indian sub continent and most of the so called Pakistani muslims ancestors were hindus.
I do not wish to be rude but Hiob has a reasonable conclusion. In my opinion Islam in Pakistan needs reforms and so does its education system as well as its media.
Rex Minor
based mostl
to rex
What do you man by “Islam in Pakistan needs reforms”?
…only in Pakistan?
……only reforms?
Let mankind of the 21st century not suffer under the dictates of 7th century Arabia.
Mendacities and obscurantisms have to be got rid of – they can’t be reformed. Muslims proudly say that islam is the final instruction – it can’t be reformed.
Every finalism is fascism.