Ever since the terrorist incident of September 11th a general understanding seems to have arisen among people that the challenges posed by Islam have now acquired human and global dimensions.

Popular Movements and Democratization in the Islamic World contains case studies of people s movements in diverse areas and periods, and it seeks to develop a comparative view of Islam and democracy that goes beyond the usual stereotype of Islam being incompatible with democracy. Unravelling the complexities that have arisen between Islam and democracy is the principal task of Islamic scholars, and this book will undoubtedly prove a starting point for all such endeavours.

While primarily intended for students and scholars, this timely and important text will prove of interest even to general readers with interests in Islamic studies.

Ever since the terrorist incident of September 11 a general understanding seems to have arisen among people that the challenges posed by Islam have now acquired human and global dimensions. What is particularly worthy of note in this debate is the tendency to view all such confrontations from a dualistic standpoint, as tussles between the Western (democratic) world and the world of Islam. "Popular Movements and Democratization in the Islamic World" contains case studies of people's movements in diverse areas and periods, and it seeks to develop a comparative view of Islam and democracy. It also presents an alternate picture of the world's Muslim societies, one transcending the simple dichotomy of 'Islam and democracy.' Unraveling the complexities that have arisen between Islam and democracy is the principal task of Islamic scholars, and this book will undoubtedly prove a starting point for all such endeavors. While primarily intended for students and scholars "Popular Movements and Democratization in the Islamic World" will prove of interest even to general readers with interests in Islamic studies.