Ruud Koopmans is research director at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and professor of sociology at Berlin’s Humboldt University. He is among Europe’s most influential social scientists and the author of numerous widely cited books and articles on social movements, immigration, religious fundamentalism, right-wing extremism, and the politics of globalization.
Why Has Democratization Bypassed The Muslim World?
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istockGlobally, democracy has expanded since the 1970s, but in the Muslim world democracies currently number fewer than ever. The essay shows that dependency on natural resources and colonial legacies provides only a limited explanation (and in the latter case a counterintuitive one). Instead, the predominance of fundamentalist versions of Islam and widespread support for fusing religion and politics have been formidable barriers towards democratic progress in the Muslim world.
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