ABSTRACT
The French-Muslim contribution to end the riots in the banlieues de l’Islam
in France made the point clear that a coming to terms of civil society in
Europe with Islam is an essential joint task. Globally, it is argued, there can
be no democratic peace in the twenty-first century without Muslim parti-
cipation, given the fact that Muslims constitute one quarter of humanity. In
setting the focus on Europe, one can establish the existence of an increasing
Muslim population of 20 million in Europe in 2007, doubling and even
tripling in the foreseeable future. A positive Muslim contribution to democracy globally and in Europe requires a rethinking of the concept of
expansionist jihad provisioned by the shari’a and its contemporary devel-
opment to a terrorist jihadism. In order to counter mere rhetorical pro-
democracy pronouncements, a rethinking of Islam aimed at supporting
religious-cultural reforms has to be placed on the agenda. To put Islam and
democracy in harmony, an Islamic cultural acceptance of the political cul-
ture of democracy, as underpinned by a civil society, is the basic require-
Is this feasible? Can Islamic civilization deliver? Are Muslims who live in
Europe willing to cooperate towards this end? My response is positive,
conditional on a Muslim honest will to engage in this endeavor.
