Islam och Demokrati : En komparativ studie rörande den islamiska legitimeringen av demokrati

This thesis is dedicated to analysing the relationship between Islam and democracy and the role played by Civil Society in a process towards democracy. This theme is further elaborated through a comprehensive study of three modern Muslim intellectuals: Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Hasan Hanafi (Egypt), and Tariq Ramadan (Switzerland), and their thoughts about and views on Islam and democracy. Islam has often been portrayed in a stereotype manner where all forms of change are seen as impossible. The aim of this study is to go beyond this vision and instead focus one the role of Islam in processes of development and new forms of interpretation concerning democracy. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the relationship between Islam and democracy. It also touches on the subject of different interpretations and definitions of democracy. The second part focuses on the role played by Civil Society when it comes to democracy and democratisation. Of certain interest is to investigate what sort of groups that are to be viewed as an intrinsic part of society and to examine the importance of their organizational structure. The third part discusses and compares the ideas about democracy and Islam put forward by three now living Muslim intellectuals. Soroush, Hanafi, and Ramadan represent different interpretations of Islam and democracy. They belong to different generations and political contexts which in turn has an impact on their views on both Islam and democracy