A Theory of Religious Democracy

"Dr Hadji Haidar’s book is an outstanding approach thoughtfully integrating philosophy, religion, and political theory, taking the reader beyond simplistic notions of 'West' and 'East'."

- Professor Scott Lucas, Birmingham University

"The compatibility of democratic and Islamic rule has been the subject of vigorous debate by philosophers, political scientists and Muslim scholars. Hamid Hadji Haidar’s book is a bold attempt to combine the democratic ideal with the values of contemporary Shi’a Islamic society in a new synthesis. It is a serious, considered, thorough and carefully argued piece of work which should be of interest to writers and students on both sides of the debate."

- Dr. Jonathan Seglow, Royal Holloway-University of London

The rise of democracy is thought to be the pre-eminent development of the twentieth century. In the last two decades, the study of democracy and democratisation has been one main strand of the comparative study of politics, and particular attention has been paid to the relationship between Islam and democracy. Focusing on a procedurals definition of democracy in terms of ‘equality’ and ‘popular participation’, Hadji Haidar articulates a Shi’a Islamic theory of religious democracy, which finds its parallel in Western secular democracy in the unspecified concept of democracy and has a particular religious component. His analysis compares ideal secular democracy and ideal religious democracy, and contrasts actual secular democracy with actual religious democracy.The rise of democracy is thought to be the pre-eminent development of the twentieth century. In the last two decades, the study of democracy and democratisation has been one main strand of the comparative study of politics, and particular attention has been paid to the relationship between Islam and democracy. Focusing on a procedurals definition of democracy in terms of ‘equality’ and ‘popular participation’, Hadji Haidar articulates a Shi’a Islamic theory of religious democracy, which finds its parallel in Western secular democracy in the unspecified concept of democracy and has a particular religious component. His analysis compares ideal secular democracy and ideal religious democracy, and contrasts actual secular democracy with actual religious democracy.