with some conceptual breathing room. country has successfully passed the
U.S. administered democracy litmus
He sheds the commonplace rigidity
test?
that usually defines democracy as plu-
The imposition of a U.S. govern-
ralism-freedom-individuality diametri-
ment definition of democracy on
cally opposed to Islam as repression-
other countries greatly constricts the
subjugation-chopping of hands.
Here Feldman is at his best — relating free-thinking approach Feldman
employed earlier, when imagining the
his knowledge of the cultural, legal and
conceptual possibilities of Islamic
religious complexities of Islam to his
democracy.
knowledge of democracy, especially that
If anti-Americanism is the problem,
of the American legal system variety.
He challenges beliefs about Islam that then Feldman greatly misinterprets
are viewed as impediments to the merg- much of its source. Anti-Americanism
is not simply the result of the U.S.
er of Islam and democracy, such as the
coddling of Middle Eastern autocrats
subjugation of women in the Muslim
or its special relationship with Israel.
world. He insists the reader take an
Anti-Americanism is also a rebuke
introspective look into the American
of American imperiousness and
democratic system, and only then
hypocrisy; it is resentment toward a
decide whether a long history of
inequality of women precludes the U.S. United States that believes whatever it
does is unequivocally good because it
from being considered a democracy.
In short, Feldman exposes the reader emanates from the source of "good"
intentions.
to the discrepancy between how
Whether guided by "good" (promot-
democracy operates in theory and how
ing democracy) or "bad" (bolstering
it operates in practice. He asks the
autocrats), there is about as much
reader not to prejudge the theoretical
trust in the U.S. government in the
possibility of Islamic democracy
Muslim
world as there was in Nixon
according to misinformed prejudices.
by the American public at the height
But once Feldman stops theorizing
of Watergate.
about the possibilities of Islamic
Binding the definition of a country's
democracy and begins discussing how
these possibilities may be achieved, his democracy to a U.S. government defi-
argument grows ponderous and floun- nition is not only dangerous in its
imperialistic construction, but also in
ders.
Feldman turns his attention to argu- its naivete.
Nonetheless, Noah
ing why Islamic democ-
Feldman's After Jihad is a
racy should be promoted
welcome addition to the
by the U.S. government.
ongoing discussion about
The continued U.S. sup-
the future of the Middle
port for the autocrats of
East. He brings to readers
the Muslim world, he
the debate over whether
argues, will cause anti-
Islam
and democracy can
Americanism to rise
co-exist. His attempt to
amongst its populations.
deconstruct popularly
On the other hand, if
held myths about Islamic
the U.S. promotes democ-
politics is a great service.
racy, the Feldman argu-
Furthermore, he does
ment goes, America may
so
by critiquing Western
eventually gain a "new set
and
American notions of
of allies whose allegiance
democracy along the way,
depends more on shared
a practice not common
`After Jihad"• A more
values than momentary
hopeful approach to Islam. to mainstream American
convenience."
political discourse at the
For Feldman, trans-
moment.
forming U.S. autocrat
As
for
fostering
democracy in the
allies into democratic allies entails a
Muslim
world,
perhaps
Feldman and
carrot and stick approach, with the
the U.S. government have their hearts
promise of increased aid, lucrative
in the right place. But a more thor-
trade agreements and more clout in
oughly reasoned plan of promoting
Washington contingent, of course,
democracy is needed than simply brib-
upon a country's acceptance of demo-
cratic practices. But at what point does ing another country's government elite
with foreign aid. 0
Washington offer sticks and not car-
rots? At what point will the United
States decide to present Jordan, say,
After Jihad is available through
with a more lucrative trade deal? How
wvvw.Jewish.corn.
will the U.S. decide if and when a
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2003
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