118 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 19:3 

The Islamic Quest for Democracy, 

Pluralism, and Human Rights 

Ahmad S. Moussa/Ii 
Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2001. 226 pages. 

In a sequel to his earlier Moderate and Radical Islamic Fundamentalism: The 
Quest for Modernity, Legitimacy, and the Islamic State, Moussalli makes a 









122 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 19:3 

Moussa( Ii fails to show how the values of democracy and human rights 
may provide for different outcomes. He clearly seems to attribute the 

West's power to those values, and yet there is always the contentious ques­
tion as to whether they were really the causes of its ascendancy or the 
effects of discovering a New World with all of the resources that accompa­
nied it. After all, it could be argued that the dynamics of western preemi­

nence existed at times of absolute monarchs and sovereigns. 
Moussalli's intentions in writing this book are undoubtedly benign. 

However, unless clear and autonomous e pistemological, methodological, 
and hermeneutic boundaries are set from within Islamic sources, and pre­

conceived or presought conclusions are not entertained, concerned scholars 
will continue to operate in a never-ending vicious circle. Before seeking to 
join the East and the West, it is more important to bring the East together. 
Perhaps this is what needs to be done first, instead of expending too much 

energy in the futile effort of bringing together what, in fact, only can stay 
apart. 

Amr G. E. Sabet 

Visiting Associate Professo r 
Department of S ocial Sciences 

Halmstad Un iversity 
Halmstad, Sweden