Freedoms Delayed: Political Legacies of Islamic Law in the Middle East

The Middle East is the world's least free region, with Islam being blamed for hindering liberalization. This book by Timur Kuran explores the lasting political effects of Islamic law, identifying channels through which Islamic institutions have limited basic freedoms. Kuran suggests that Islam's rich history carries the seeds of liberalization, but there is no quick fix for the region's prevailing record of human freedoms.

Format: Hardback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Middle East is widely recognized as the world's least free region, according to various indices of political performance. Opinions vary regarding the factors contributing to this lack of freedom. Some argue that Islam is a hindrance to liberalization, while others contend that Islam cannot be solely responsible, considering that the region is no longer governed by Islamic law. In his book, "The Long Divergence," Timur Kuran, the author of the influential Long Divergence, delves into the enduring political consequences of the Middle East's long exposure to Islamic law. Kuran identifies several mechanisms through which Islamic institutions, both defunct and still active, have restricted the expansion of fundamental freedoms under political regimes of different types: secular dictatorships, electoral democracies, monarchies legitimized through Islam, and theocracies. He suggests that Islam's rich history contains the potential for liberalization on various fronts, and that the Middle East has already laid the groundwork for a liberal order. However, it is important to note that there is no easy solution to the region's longstanding record of human rights violations.

The Middle East is widely recognized as the world's least free region, according to various indices of political performance. Opinions vary regarding the factors contributing to this lack of freedom. Some argue that Islam is a hindrance to liberalization, while others contend that Islam cannot be solely responsible, considering that the region is no longer governed by Islamic law. In his book, "The Long Divergence," Timur Kuran, the author of the influential Long Divergence, delves into the enduring political consequences of the Middle East's long exposure to Islamic law. Kuran identifies several mechanisms through which Islamic institutions, both defunct and still active, have restricted the expansion of fundamental freedoms under political regimes of different types: secular dictatorships, electoral democracies, monarchies legitimized through Islam, and theocracies. He suggests that Islam's rich history contains the potential for liberalization on various fronts, and that the Middle East has already laid the groundwork for a liberal order. However, it is important to note that there is no easy solution to the region's longstanding record of human rights violations.

Weight: 780g
Dimension: 160 x 238 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009320016