2012/09/11 by Peter Weber · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Society, and Development #Political Conflict and Governance
paper · doi:10.1007/s11266-012-9299-4
openalex publication_date 2012/09/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract By emphasizing civil society’s ambiguous relationship with modernity, the author proposes a discursive definition of civil society that draws on conflict theory. The author distinguishes between a civil society and a sectarian approach to politics from a theoretical perspective. Accordingly, a juxtaposition of the Muslim Brotherhood and its splinter groups in the Egyptian political arena epitomizes the opposing ideals of a civil society and a good society. Thus, the author moves away from the theoretical debate on the compatibility of Islam and democracy and suggests the possibility of a learning process of democratic practices by means of participating in the public sphere.