Most Muslim countries do not rank highly on the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and economic freedom—perhaps because these institutions of a free society are not revered in Islamic thought. Some of the attitudes Muslims express in opinion polls, however, are surprisingly compatible with at least some of the central preconditions for these core institutions.

Stefan Voigt teaches economics at the University of Kassel in Germany.
Civil Liberties and Human RightsCivil RightsCulture and SocietyEconomic FreedomInternational Economics and DevelopmentLaw and LibertyNorth Africa and The Middle EastPhilosophy and Religion
Other Independent Review articles by Stefan Voigt
Fall 2006 Understanding the Process of Economic Change