Mirjam Künkler, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University will present her research on religious actors in democratization process on
February 23rd, Monday at 5:00pm-6:30pm in International Affairs Bldg, Room 1201
What is the role of religious actors in the democratization processes of Muslim-majority countries? The only five countries categorized as democratic and free/partly free by Freedom House, the BTI and Polity IV as part of the Third and Fourth Waves of Democratization are Albania, Indonesia, Mali, Senegal and Turkey. The talk will provide an overview of the common patterns and factors that have prompted religious actors to support or obstruct processes of democratization and de-democratization in these countries. Professor Künkler will clarify whether the role of Islamic actors and organizations in democratic transition processes has been substantively different from that in Christian-majority contexts in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia.