Political Theory of Muslim Democracy

Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır is an Assistant Professor at the Political Science and International Relations Department at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University. In 2018, she obtained her PhD in Political Theory at Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs. Her research interests are in the areas of Islamic and multiculturalist political thought, Middle Eastern politics, and comparative political theory.

• IntroductionPart I: Typologies of Muslim and Multicultural Political Thoughts1. Islamic Discourses on Governance and Pluralism2. Multiculturalist Discourses on Religion and Democratic GovernanceGeneral Conclusion to Part I: Typologies of Muslim and Multicultural Political ThoughtsPart II: Deconstructing Muslim Discourses on Democracy3. The Compatibility-based ArgumentsPart III: Conceptualising Muslim Democracy General Introduction to Part III4. Pluralist Secularism5. The Social Public Sphere6. Pluralisng ConstitutionGeneral Conclusion to Part III: The Conceptualisation of Muslim DemocracyConclusionBibliographyIndex

In deconstructing the ‘Turkish model’, Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır adroitly unravels a contemporary paradox: the reconciliation of faith and pluralist participation. Her masterful exploration of Islamic writings and political theory substantiates that Muslim democracy can, indeed must, have normative roots. It is a bold and inspiring call to rethink democracy as merely instrumental and Muslim societies as narrowly doctrinal.