The Greater Middle East Initiative and Democracy in Muslim States: A Turkish Perspective

Abstract

This article takes issue with the Greater Middle East Initiative launched by theU.S. administration and endorsed by the G-8 leaders at the Sea Island Summit, June2004. It also discusses the problem of democracy and modernity in Muslim societies.The article argues that the U.S. initiative came short of meeting the requirements ofpromoting democracy in Muslim countries as it lacks a “carrot and stick” approachin respect of the existing regimes. Then, it disagrees with the prevalent views in theWest on the incompatibility of Islam with democracy and Muslims being in fierceopposition to modernity. After presenting practical examples showing that Islam isconducive to democracy, the article concludes by emphasizing the need for dialoguewith the Muslim masses.If the United States and the G-8 leaders want democracy to prevail in theMuslim world, as they publicly declared, then they must stand by it. They mustengage in the “genuine co-operation,” that they promise. It is obvious that there isnot much use in cooperation with the existing autocrats. They would be betteradvised to engage in “genuine co-operation” with the masses. For this, there is aneed to come to terms with Islam and with the compatibility of Islam and democracy.What I mean by genuine cooperation and coming to terms with Islam is that theWesterners need to view Islam and the Muslims from the inside. They should showrespect for the sensibilities of the Muslim masses.The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis , Vol. XVIII, No. 2, Summer 2006, pp. 7394.