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AZIZ
AHMAD
Why has
democracy not taken root in most Muslim countries? -
FOTH SEMINAR APR. 02, 2006
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Aziz Ahmad |
Dear Dr. Qazi,
It is good to know that you were able to read my
post #84. It was too lengthy
for anyone to want to read it. While writing that post I
broke my own rule of not writing any communication that
exceeds 800 words. You must have noticed that the Family
website went quiet after post #84.
What I was trying to explain in that post was that Europe
got its liberties (political, economic and religious)
because of a clash of opposing interests or groups ---
first, between church and state, then between lords and
king, then Catholics and protestants, and later between
business and state. These clashes successively corroded the
powers of state and resulted in greater individual
liberties.
You are right, that some of the feudal lords must have
turned to capitalism in the 19th and the 20th century. But
my point was that business or industry have to have
agreements and contracts that are to be interpreted by
courts in case of disputes between business and state and
among the various businesses themselves. In other words,
for business and industry to flourish there has to be the
rule of law. So, just as the struggle between the lords and
king in the earlier centuries helped in achieving liberties
for the society, business and industry played somewhat
similar role in the 19th and 20th century.
I am not sure if I have answered your question or just added
more words to my earlier discourse of 1,000+ words.
By the way, I promised to deliver the second of part of my
lecture to the "class"--- about the Muslim world ---- but
noticing that there was virtual silence after post #84 I
suspected the class was too tired and not ready for another
lecture.
Aziz Ahmad
New York
May 9, 2006
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