Although Hamid makes some good points, as a Muslim his assessment is based on one huge fundamental false assumption: that “Middle East” equals “Islamic.” I truly wish he had written this book in partnership with a Christian Arab who has similar academic chops. One name that comes immediately to mind is the Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Bethlehem born and raised Christian scholar and founder of Dar Al Kalima University, the only University of arts and culture in Palestine. Dr. Raheb is also a strong advocate for Palestinian freedom and rights on the world stage.
With Mitri as co-author Hamid’s book would have had at least one significant difference: it would have said that the problem of making Democracy work “in an Islamic majority country” runs up against the difficulties he mentions. Christianity was born in the Middle East , and among the first Christians (read Acts 2) were Arabs, descendants of whom are alive today and living, as the first Christians were, under the iron hand of oppression. And, praise God, the numbers of those in the ME who are learning to make Jesus their model is increasing. And among other things this bodes well for Democracy.
Individualism is not, as Hamid would have it, one of the reasons that makes Democracy work but the Jesus-shaped Christian egalitarian model (our predominantly Christian roots)—not the John Wayne man as a strong island (I intentionally use “man” here) that has been the model since 1980—which submits to the good of all. The reason that, in American at least, democracy is being threatened right now is, as I see it, due in no small degree to so-called Evangelical Christians (there is precious little Evangel-Gospel evident among the current dominant majority) who have strayed and bought into the world’s system of power by force.
Hi Jim, I'm familiar with Mitri Raheb's work, he's a Lutheran in Palestine, writes some good stuff. But alas, the Christian population of the Middle East - diverse as it is - is very small and does not have much sway. That said, their views are definitely worth listening to, I wish more people read Raheb's work.
True point about the small Christian population and its overall lack of much say throughout the near east. I do hold hope, however, for this changing, as my experience is that both the Christian numbers and the power of their voice are increasing.
I’m a little less hopeful for Palestine. I recall Don Wagner’s quote in his 1995 book Anxious for Armageddon, in which he relates a conversation he had with the late king Hussein in 1985. (An amazing man.) We are seeing the results today in Palestine of what the king said back then: “Many Christians are emigrating to the West, and this concerns me deeply. It is my conviction that Christians are the glue that helps hold our societies together. If they all leave and the churches are emptied, I fear for the future in this part of the world.”
The problem with democracy in the west is that governments are now just buying votes. Any sense of fiscal restraint has been lost and MMT provides the alibi.
One of the problems with Western/US democracy is that it is in effect an illusion of democracy. When candidates for Government & the Judiciary are dependent on/ swayed by superrich donors, and powerful oligarchic lobbyists can determine legislation, and can control/modify the information that manipulates a gullible electorate, then that democracy is a sham. Case in point, AIPAC/et al control US military funding for racist-aparteid-genocidal Israel & ME policy. Pharmaceutical & Insurance companies, Oil & Gas interests, Defence tech & the Gun lobby, Food monopolies, etc are all cases in point.
Maybe we are well beyond the western enlightenment idea that democracy will usher in the KoG? That said, true local democracy and a distributive impulse like Chesterton argued for would be close to the KoG ;)
Michael, you ask an interesting, but revealingly biased question: 'Can we avoid a situation where Islamic regimes will join an authoritarian axis comprised of fascist, marxist and ethno-nationalist autocracies who share a mutual Can we avoid a situation where Islamic regimes will join an authoritarian axis comprised of fascist, marxist and ethno-nationalist autocracies who share a mutual animosity against the West? animosity against the West?' Seeing that a pro-extremist axis of fascist, capitalist, ethno-nationalist autocracies share a mutual animosity against ME Arabs, Muslims and other dark skinned people? Could it be that there are multiple reasons why Islamic regimes distrust/hate murderous Westerners & their allies. Case in point, the 100sK civilians killed in Iraq under the pretense of Arabs with WOMD, or the support of brutal dictators in Iran & Iraq, only because they were proAmerican puppets. We all must improve our knowledge of modern ME history.
Although Hamid makes some good points, as a Muslim his assessment is based on one huge fundamental false assumption: that “Middle East” equals “Islamic.” I truly wish he had written this book in partnership with a Christian Arab who has similar academic chops. One name that comes immediately to mind is the Reverend Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Bethlehem born and raised Christian scholar and founder of Dar Al Kalima University, the only University of arts and culture in Palestine. Dr. Raheb is also a strong advocate for Palestinian freedom and rights on the world stage.
With Mitri as co-author Hamid’s book would have had at least one significant difference: it would have said that the problem of making Democracy work “in an Islamic majority country” runs up against the difficulties he mentions. Christianity was born in the Middle East , and among the first Christians (read Acts 2) were Arabs, descendants of whom are alive today and living, as the first Christians were, under the iron hand of oppression. And, praise God, the numbers of those in the ME who are learning to make Jesus their model is increasing. And among other things this bodes well for Democracy.
Individualism is not, as Hamid would have it, one of the reasons that makes Democracy work but the Jesus-shaped Christian egalitarian model (our predominantly Christian roots)—not the John Wayne man as a strong island (I intentionally use “man” here) that has been the model since 1980—which submits to the good of all. The reason that, in American at least, democracy is being threatened right now is, as I see it, due in no small degree to so-called Evangelical Christians (there is precious little Evangel-Gospel evident among the current dominant majority) who have strayed and bought into the world’s system of power by force.
‘Nuff said.
Hi Jim, I'm familiar with Mitri Raheb's work, he's a Lutheran in Palestine, writes some good stuff. But alas, the Christian population of the Middle East - diverse as it is - is very small and does not have much sway. That said, their views are definitely worth listening to, I wish more people read Raheb's work.
True point about the small Christian population and its overall lack of much say throughout the near east. I do hold hope, however, for this changing, as my experience is that both the Christian numbers and the power of their voice are increasing.
I’m a little less hopeful for Palestine. I recall Don Wagner’s quote in his 1995 book Anxious for Armageddon, in which he relates a conversation he had with the late king Hussein in 1985. (An amazing man.) We are seeing the results today in Palestine of what the king said back then: “Many Christians are emigrating to the West, and this concerns me deeply. It is my conviction that Christians are the glue that helps hold our societies together. If they all leave and the churches are emptied, I fear for the future in this part of the world.”
Great review Michael, sounds like a really interesting book, I think I will check it out!
The problem with democracy in the west is that governments are now just buying votes. Any sense of fiscal restraint has been lost and MMT provides the alibi.
One of the problems with Western/US democracy is that it is in effect an illusion of democracy. When candidates for Government & the Judiciary are dependent on/ swayed by superrich donors, and powerful oligarchic lobbyists can determine legislation, and can control/modify the information that manipulates a gullible electorate, then that democracy is a sham. Case in point, AIPAC/et al control US military funding for racist-aparteid-genocidal Israel & ME policy. Pharmaceutical & Insurance companies, Oil & Gas interests, Defence tech & the Gun lobby, Food monopolies, etc are all cases in point.
In Australia, the gambling lobby is the most powerful lobby group.
Maybe we are well beyond the western enlightenment idea that democracy will usher in the KoG? That said, true local democracy and a distributive impulse like Chesterton argued for would be close to the KoG ;)
Michael, you ask an interesting, but revealingly biased question: 'Can we avoid a situation where Islamic regimes will join an authoritarian axis comprised of fascist, marxist and ethno-nationalist autocracies who share a mutual Can we avoid a situation where Islamic regimes will join an authoritarian axis comprised of fascist, marxist and ethno-nationalist autocracies who share a mutual animosity against the West? animosity against the West?' Seeing that a pro-extremist axis of fascist, capitalist, ethno-nationalist autocracies share a mutual animosity against ME Arabs, Muslims and other dark skinned people? Could it be that there are multiple reasons why Islamic regimes distrust/hate murderous Westerners & their allies. Case in point, the 100sK civilians killed in Iraq under the pretense of Arabs with WOMD, or the support of brutal dictators in Iran & Iraq, only because they were proAmerican puppets. We all must improve our knowledge of modern ME history.