Conclusion: Prospects for Muslim Democracies

Abstract

This book has sought to assess the role of religion in politics within Muslim societies, especially in light of the transformational changes taking place since the Arab Spring.¹ Most Western scholars have long asserted that religion has no place in a democratic polity. Our goal here was to determine the validity of this claim in Muslim-majority countries with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Our central argument is that Islamists have played a decisive role and will continue to do so in the years and decades ahead as the region transitions through this democratization process. As scholars, we have gone to great length to approach this subject objectively and with sensitivity to avoid the polemic tensions on both ends of the spectrum. This is especially necessary on a topic as contentious and oft-politicized as this one. Undoubtedly there will be critics that disagree with the merits of our argument while others will oppose it on ideological grounds. We look forward to a lively and constructive discussion with the former while we find the polemic nature of the later more difficult to engage.