Mohammed

Thank you for that "Daniel" link. He is quite good at pointing the flaws of western democracy.

I liked that "check-and-balance" of the distance between the ulama and political leaders. In some way, I have created a similar sub system called the Advisory Board, which is in Chapter 5 of my book. The advisors are outside of the decision-making process, yet will often be part of the decision-making bodies as a non-voting voice. The elected representatives will seriously consider their advisor's words because the advisors come from a place of knowledge, experience, and wisdom in governance.

Daniel had some good comments on the differences between the theories and practices of western democracy. I would say that the same kind of differences occurs in the Muslim world, past and present. We have a long ways to go attain perfection in governance (or something reasonably close to it). The Muslim world, especially today, does not provide the example many of us are looking for. Muslim theory does not equal Muslim practice.

I also believe that the Islam is far from unified. Until some kind of unity is attained within Islam I can't see a lot of movement on it becoming the example as a model for governance.