Islam, Modernity, and Democracy: A Critique of Cultural Essentialism
Since September 11, 2001, the perception of Islam in Western societies has been largely shaped by a narrative that essentializes this religion as inherently archaic and fundamentally incompatible with modern and democratic values . This discourse, although widespread, deserves to be vigorously contested. The true causes of the prevalence of authoritarian regimes in many Muslim countries do not lie in the religion itself, but in complex political-institutional dynamics and historical power relations that have shaped these societies. The Brilliant Muslim Era To counteract the abusive generalizations of cultural essentialism, it is essential to revisit the history of Islam. Between the 8th and 12th centuries, the Muslim world was a center of intellectual, scientific, and economic radiance . Eminent thinkers like al-Farābī and Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) not only deepened philosophy but also contributed to significant advances in medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. Dynamic economic exchanges at ...