Mosque or Modernity?

The Arab Spring toppled some dictators, but countries have yet to organize strong institutions for democratic governance. Inequality and poverty destabilize the region, along with violence in Egypt, Libya, Iraq and Syria. “There are no easy ways out of underdevelopment without challenging traditional lifestyles, customs, and social relations,” writes former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard. The essay's title may present a false choice by suggesting that that people must decide between the mosque or modernity, yet Rocard suggests that reformists could still emerge from within Islam’s ranks, as countries and individuals pursue peace by resisting ideological and political extremes, following the historical patterns of earlier reformists from other religions. The process won’t go quickly or smoothly. “If Islam, particularly in the Middle East, is on a similar trajectory, long-term instability in the region is all but assured,” Rocard concludes. “Mutual understanding is the only way to moderate the consequences.” – YaleGlobal