Democracy in Iraq is given 50-50 chance

PROVO — What are the prospects for democracy in Iraq and the Muslim world? About 50/50, according to an expert at BYU Education Week.

Daniel C. Peterson, a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic, said this past week that the bottom line is, it's a toss-up.

"Right now we're poised on a knife edge — it could go either way," he said.

To understand the Muslim world, Peterson tried to help class members understand where the Muslim beliefs come from. According to Peterson, when the Prophet Mohammed died, there was no prophet to succeed him. Individuals stood in for him as law enforcers. Through time they collected oral and written reports and accounts of what "the prophet said." These "Haditha" were often created for individual gain, making it hard to discern good from bad.

Once the scholars determined which was "the good Haditha," that became Islamic law. According to Peterson, around 800 A.D. the doors of interpretation were closed and Islamic law was frozen. Debates arose, and now centuries later, they continue.

"The picture is not wholly bleak," Peterson said.

The Quran has verses that lendthemselves to democracy. For instance, the Quran teaches there is no compulsion in religion. Peterson said it's like, "You have your religion, I have my religion." Other messages from the Quran include, "God does not love aggressors," and "Do good, for God loves those who do good." He said the text is against aggression.

It will take the Sunnis and Shiites centuries of debate, reason and interpretations to reach a consensus, Peterson said. However, there are other members of the Muslim world beside those in Iraq or Iran, and Peterson said there are some democracies already rising with them.

Senegal, Turkey, Quatar, Kuwait, Indonesia and Tunisia are all promising. "Turkey is a possible model," Peterson said. "It is an extremely important place for the West to watch," he said. "It is very much in the interest of the world that the Turks win in their battles."

As for Iraq, it already has a form of democracy — residents voted, Peterson said. He added that Iraq has a long history of governance, economic advantages and tourism. Iraq potentially has agriculture, oil and great things for tourists to see and do.

"It is on the verge of winning or failing badly," Peterson said. "It is hard to establish a democracy in a country on the verge of civil war. It seems to me we could be a little patient with a country that is trying."

Peterson said to build respect for democracy, the United States should broadcast intelligent news and commentary to all the homes with satellite dishes in Iraq and Iran. Instead, it is broadcasting American "pop" culture.

"We're saying we want to share our culture with you — here's Brittany Spears," he said.

Peterson concluded that all Muslims have the fundamental beliefs they need to help establish freedoms in their countries — to establish a form of democracy.

"We are poised in an historical time," he said. "In the West, we must encourage the right trends from inside their own country."

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