A comprehensive comparison of Islamic and Western political systems.

1. Islamic vs Western Democracy
Speaker : your name

2. Derived from Greek words ‘demos’ meaning
people and ‘crato’ meaning power,
Democracy means:
“Power of People”
“Self Rule”
“People governing themselves”
Literal Meaning of Democracy

3. “A system of government where the power is held by the
people. The people get to make the decisions.”
• A community is governed through its representatives
who are elected.
• It is defined as the form of Government in which the
supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by
them directly or Indirectly through a system of
representation usually involving
periodic free elections.
• In this system people have right to choose their
leaders.
What Is Democracy?

4. Types of Democracy
Direct Democracy:
Direct democracy is when the
people make the decisions
themselves through voting.
e.g. Switzerland is a rare example
of a country with instruments of
direct democracy
Representative Democracy:
Representative democracy is
when people elect others to make
decisions for them.
e.g. The U.S. government is a prime
example of representative and
Constitutional democracy.

5. History of Democracy
• It was first practiced in the city-state of
Athens ,Greece in 6th Century BC.
• At that time voting was limited to men.
Women and slaves were not eligible to
vote.
• Even after end of Athenian democracy,
some of it would continue to exist
among other nations during middle
ages.
• Democracy in the form that we know
today started in 18th century CE with the
American and French Revolutions.

6. Democracy Has Grown Over The World
In The Past Four Decades
As of the end of 2017, 96 out of 167
countries with populations of at least
500,000 (57%) were democracies of some
kind, and only 21 (13%) were autocracies.
Nearly four dozen other countries – 46, or
28% – exhibited elements of both
democracy and autocracy. Broadly
speaking, the share of democracies
among the world’s governments has been
on an upward trend since the mid-1970s,
and now sits just shy of its post-World
War II record (58% in 2016).

7. WESTERN CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY
Western Model of
Democracy is also known
as Liberal Democracy.

8. WHAT LIBERAL DEMOCRACY MEANS?
Liberal democracy is an ideology that
operates under a representative form of
government.
It is characterized by the following
 Elections between multiple
parties.
 The rule of law
 Freedom of people
 Human and civil rights
 Independent judiciary etc.

9. ORIGIN OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY
 It was started against socialism by the capitalists.
 Liberal democracy traces its origins—and its name—to
the European 18th-century, also known as the Age of
Enlightenment.
 At the time, most European states were monarchies,
with political power held either by the monarch or
the aristocracy.
 Liberals challenged the powers of Monarch and
advocated representative government.
 They supported freedom of choice.
 They demanded economic order free of government
interference.
 This system based on industrial capitalism first
developed in Europe then spread to North America.

10. DIFFERENT FORMS OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY
• Parliamentary Systems.
Some examples of parliamentary democracies are:
o Great Britain
o Canada
o Japan etc.
• Presidential System
Some examples of presidential democracies are:
o US
o Brazil
o Argentina
o Mexico
• Semi-Presidential System
Some examples of presidential democracies are:
o France

11. FEATURES OF WESTERN
DEMOCRACY
Some of the features of the western
democracies are:
 Free, Fair and Frequent Elections
 Right to Vote
 No Control on Judiciary
 Representation of Minorities
 Rule within Constitutional Law
 Freedom of Speech, Expression and
Choice
 Council Responsibility
 Right to Education
 Right to Form Association and Union
 Same Law for All

12. LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Majority of European Union
 Canada
 Australia
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 Japan
 Chile
 India
 Brazil etc.

13. ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY
An Islamic state is a state that has a form
of government based on Islamic law
(sharia).
Islam is a complete way of life and is
present in every field of human
existence. It provides guidance for all
aspects of life - individual and social,
material and moral, economic and
political, legal and cultural, and national
and international.

14. CONCEPT OF
DEMOCRACY IN
ISLAM
The Islamic society firmly believes
that sovereignty over the entire
universe belongs to Allah Almighty.
The power is to be exercised by the
representatives of the people within
the limits prescribed by the Islam.
People are at liberty to elect the
God-fearing person to run the
affairs of the state.
The advisors constituted Shura
(the panel of advisors).
The Government and the
legislative assemblies do not
enjoy unlimited powers.

15. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY IN ISLAM
JUSTICE: Justice makes society peaceful and prosperous. Unity,
love, sincerity and peace prevails due to justice.
EQUALITY: Islam is the torch bearer of equality. It rejects all kinds
of discrimination on the basis of race, color, wealth and poverty.
FRATERNITY: Allah says "All believers are brothers to one
another".
TOLERANCE: It develops atmosphere of peace and stability in
society.

16. CONCEPT OF SHARIA
IN ISLAM
Sharia is Islam's legal system.
It is derived from the Quran, Islam's holy
book, as well as the Sunnah and Hadith - the
deeds and sayings of the Prophet
Muhammad.
Sharia acts as a code for living that all
Muslims should adhere to, including
prayers, fasting and donations to the poor.
It aims to help Muslims understand how
they should lead every aspect of their
lives according to God's wishes.

18. ISLAMIC STATE AS A WELFARE STATE
• A welfare state is s state that provides a comprehensive set of services.
• In Islam the concept of welfare state was embedded from the very beginning.
• Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said:
• “He is not a faithful who eats to his full while his neighbor remains hungry by
his side.”
Islamic welfare state must provide:
• Protection to citizens
• Free and equal education
• Economic security
• Adequate means of livelihood

19. 3 C’S OF ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY
Constitution Consent Consultation

20. Are Islam & Western Democracy
Compatible?

21. Similarities
Freedom to Choose Leaders
Freedom of Religion/Speech
Justice & Equal Rights
Enforcement of Law

22. Differences
1. Sovereignty:
In Islam: Allah is sovereign
‘O believers, obey God, and obey the Messenger
and those in authority over you.’ (4:59)
In West: People & Parliament are sovereign

23. Differences (Cont.)
2. Constitution:
In West:
• Laws change according to desires of people
In Islam:
• Permanent laws based on Quran & Sunnah
• Majority’s opinion doesn’t matter if its against
Islam
‘and if you obey majority of those on Earth, they will
make you lose the way of Allah.’ (6:116)

24. Differences (Cont.)
3. Selection Criterion for the Ruler:
In West:
• Voting System.
• Selected on basis of most votes
In Islam:
• Selected on basis of character

25. Differences (Cont.)
4. Election Campaigns
In West:
• Politicians ask to be voted for
In Islam:
• Anyone who asks to be voted for is not trustworthy
• Rulers are chosen by recommendation, or by
committee

26. Compatibility
Allah is Sovereign
Constitution is
Permanent
Leaders are chosen on
the basis of merit
Public and Parliament are
sovereign
Constitution can be
changed
Leaders are chosen on the
basis of most votes
Justice
Equality
Freedom
Laws
Islam Western Democracy

27. Democracy In Pakistan

28. HISTORY OF PAKISTAN’S
DEMOCRACY
• After independence in 1947, Pakistan was
established as a Parliamentary System
based on elected forms of governance.
• However, the military has ruled for over
three decades (1958-1971, 1977-1988, 1999-
2008) instead.
• The Democratic Government elected in 2008
completed its constitutional tenure, a first in
Pakistan's history and signifies the first
democratic transfer of power.

29. ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
• The full name of Pakistan is “Islamic
Republic of Pakistan” but the word
Islamic is just limited to that.
• The teachings of Islam are not
depicted in our policies and laws.
• In short, Islamic Democracy is
negligible in Pakistan.

30. WESTERN DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
• The “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”
mainly follows the Western
Democracy.
• Western Democracy is reflected in
almost every policy and law we make.
• Since our economy is in the bins and
we need loans from IMF(International
Monitoring Fund), it is our necessity to
agree to their terms whatever they
might be.

31. EXAMPLES OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY
IN PAKISTAN
Our banking systems are based on western principles. Interest
is not allowed in Islam but there is not check and balance of
interest in our banking systems. Moreover, in Islam interest is
regarded as “haram”.
The “transgender act” was passed in Pakistan and it was against
the Islamic laws. Marriage of homosexuals is strictly prohibited in
Islam.This act is for the purpose of normalizing western norms
in Pakistan.

32. REASONS BEHIND FAILURE OF
DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
Weak Foreign Policy
Military Intervention
Corruption
No Accountability
Political Instability
Institutional Crisis
Blame on Each Other
Extremism
Low Level of Political Socialization
Feudalism

33. MUSHARRAF’S EFFORT TO RULE OUT
WESTERN DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
• In and interview to the BBC, Musharraf ruled out
the “Western Form of Democracy” in Pakistan.
• He said, “Every nation has their own problems
and every country should act to its
circumstances.”
• He further added, “We believe in democracy. I
myself strongly believe in democracy but we
should mold it according to the Pakistani
Environment. And I think here in Pakistan, your
London or US-like democracy cannot be
implemented.”

34. Why modern democracy fails?

35. PROBLEMS WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACY
1. Standards for eligibility:
• Ruling should be performed by finest
minds
• Ignoring desire for competence
• Democracy doesn’t work
2. Educational Inequalities
• Financial differences
• Educational differences
• No systematic equality
• Uneducated people bring wrong person
in power

36. PROBLEMS WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACY(CONT.)
3. Instability:
• 4-5 year tenure
• Real problems take 15-20 years
• Causes instability
4. Political competition
• Power & money
• Political leaders do anything to win
• Raising false hopes & promises
• Dirty politics

37. Solutions in Islamic
Democracy
Eligibility criteria
Right to vote
Caliph system
No election campaigns

38. Conclusion:
Islamic Democracy is the best solution
to modern-day political problems.

39. Thank You!
Any Questions?