MACMILLAN Ethnic Minorities in Democratizing Muslim Countries: Turkey and Indonesia (Minorities in West Asia and North Africa)

This book explores the ways in which democratizing Muslim countries treat their ethnic minorities’ requests of inclusiveness and autonomy. The author examines the results of two important cases―the securitization of Kurds in Turkey and the “autonomization” (a new concept coined by the study) of Acehnese in Indonesia―through multiple hypotheses: the elites’ power interest, the international factors, the institutions and history of the state, and the ontological security of the country. By examining states with ethnic diversity and very little religious diversity, the research controls for the effect of religious conflict on minority inclusion, and so allows expanded generalizations and comparisons. In non-Muslim majority countries, and in so called “mature democracies,” the problem of the inclusion of old or new ethnic minorities is also crucial for the sustainability of the “never-ending” democratization processes.  Review “Geri’s book is a welcome addition to the literature on Islam and democracy by shifting away from the main stream focus on religious minorities to look into the status of ethnic minorities.  It also illustrates the heuristic relevance of adopting mid-range theories and eclectic methodology.” (Jocelyne Cesari, Professor of Religion and Politics, University of Birmingham, UK; Georgetown University, USA) “Using an innovative framework, Geri explores how two young Muslim democracies adopted starkly different approaches to minority rights. Richly descriptive, erudite, and historically grounded, Dr. Geri’s book illuminates how young democracies everywhere wrestle with questions of identity, distinctiveness, cohesion, and individual liberty.” (David Earnest, Odeen-Swanson Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of South Dakota, USA) “Everyone with an interest in understanding crumbling democracies, insufficient politics of assimilation and multiculturalism as well as the all too often repressive outcomes will benefit from Geri’s comparison of lessons for mainstream theory and policies from the cases analyzed. Thanks to his path-breaking study, additional dynamics of class, movements and democratization may now be added.” (Olle Törnquist, Professor of Political Science and Development Research, University of Oslo, Norway) From the Back Cover This book explores the ways in which democratizing Muslim countries treat their ethnic minorities’ requests of inclusiveness and autonomy. The author examines the results of two important cases―the securitization of Kurds in Turkey and the “autonomization” (a new concept coined by the study) of Acehnese in Indonesia―through multiple hypotheses: the elites’ power interest, the international factors, the institutions and history of the state, and the ontological security of the country. By examining states with ethnic diversity and very little religious diversity, the research controls for the effect of religious conflict on minority inclusion, and so allows expanded generalizations and comparisons. In non-Muslim majority countries, and in so called “mature democracies,” the problem of the inclusion of old or new ethnic minorities is also crucial for the sustainability of the “never-ending” democratization processes.  Maurizio Geri is Research Analyst at ACT-NATO, specializing in international security and democratic issues in the regions of Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. About the Author Maurizio Geri is Research Analyst at ACT-NATO, specializing in international security and democratic issues in the regions of Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.