Editorial : Islam and democracy

Abstract

To ask today if Islam is compatible with democracy means to confront a geo-political question before the theoretical one. If we think about incompatibility, we cannot refuse the theory of a "cultural struggle". The option for compatibility contains, however, within itself another question. Is it legitimate to use force in order to favour democratic evolution in Islamic countries? We cannot negate that in the past years this idea had found many followers; its most significant expression is in the politics of Bush junior. Now, however, this trend has been put into crisis by the recent evolution of the international situation. The opinion, put forward by the Bush administration, according to which the diffusion of peace and democracy in the world depends above all on the consolidation of an international order, based on the protection of human rights, guaranteed by the USA (and not by UN, presented, often, as a disarmed prophet) is belied by the facts. A war for "peace and rights" could be declared and won by the United States at any time, but it is far more difficult that a military victory could succeed and guarantee a peaceful solution to the problems that trouble many areas all over the world. Italy believes this, especially after the end of the right-of-centre government. Today Italy is convinced that occupying itself concretely with the Mediterranean is its primary duty. This strategy doesn't imply necessarily a conflict with the USA, but it tends to create strong and autonomous political relationships with the governments of the countries in the area. It is necessary, for a useful dialogue between Islam and the West, to pay attention to the arguments of countries of the southern side of the Mediterranean. [excerpt]