Islam and democracy

Beyond its compatibility

Abstract

The debates regarding the compatibility between democracy and Islam have been based on preconceived ideas, prejudices and a certain epistemology with a strong value load, therefore, it is necessary to carry out a review that goes beyond the mere reason of compatibility. For this reason, it is necessary to begin its study by breaking the orientalist paradigm in which it has been involved and, subsequently, deconstruct the elements that would prevent a deeper and more detailed approach. It is based on the idea that both systems aspire to an ideal situation based on different foundations but with the same purpose. However, between historical development and the political-ideological struggle, their compatibility has been questioned and, consequently, conditions have been developed for its correct application and a Manichaean discourse, with a certain moral charge. This work seeks to provide some approaches for debate and an approach to try to answer why in most of the Muslim world there is no democracy? For these purposes, it first aims to break the barrier of colonial discourse and the partial information that takes a previous construction as the beginning of the discussion. Then, the issue of the exceptionality of the Arab world woven under orientalist and Eurocentric discourses is addressed, to give way to a vision accepted as universal in various contemporary societies. Subsequently, some guidelines of compatibility between democracy and Islam are explored and, finally, an observation of the facts escape the theoretical component and lands on geopolitical interests and their alliances for survival in the world order.