Mutual consultation in Islam
“Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance…..” [Quran 42:38]
“This verse lays down mutual consultation as the basic principle which should guide Muslims in the transaction of their national affairs. This simple word contains the nucleus of a representative form of government of which the West is so proud.” [The Islamic Institution of Shura Al Hakam ]
Modern Middle Eastern countries have ignored this key concept in Islam.
Often unpopular and reliant on family commanded military forces to protect them from their own people, they frequently slip into corrupt and totalitarian practices.
At the time of the Arab Spring in Tunisia in 2011, Lamya Hamad wrote: “The Prophet (s) held many councils of war before going into battle. At one point, he believed that they should fight only if the enemy entered Madinah. However, his companions opined that they should go out and meet the army. The Prophet (s) accepted the latter opinion even though they lost. Despite this, God revealed shortly afterwards a verse which stressed the importance of shura.” [Lama Hamad Shura: Islamic Approach to Decision-Making, Why Islam]
Mutual consultation in the West
The notion of mutual consultation as a rule of government found expression in the West over several centuries.
The English Civil War was waged to remove the tyranny of divine right rule by kings.
It led to seventeenth century thinkers like Henry Stubbes looking to the life of Prophet Muhammad (s) and his Islamic Republic as a model of good governance, with the head of state subject to the rule of law, presiding over a society which tolerated different religions.
In the nineteenth century the demand for mutual consultation as a form of government, rather than rule by the elite, became part of the English working class Chartist Movement.
In 1839 The Great Charter was launched with six demands, basic requirements of a democracy.
They were: universal manhood suffrage, equal electoral districts, vote by secret ballot, annually elected parliaments, payment of members of Parliament and abolition of the property qualifications for membership.
The elite claimed such anarchy would destroy civilisation but eventually had to accept extension of government by consultation.
All demands except for annual parliaments were achieved, including votes for women.
The issue of electoral districts has not been resolved in some democracies like the USA where political parties draw boundaries.
Australia dealt with this by appointing independent electoral commissions to oversee such matters.
In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln, in the Gettysburg Address laid down the most frequently quoted definition of what is meant by democratic governance.
He described it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Although the freed slaves were forced to fight for basic civil rights and democracy for over a hundred years from this address, it was an observable goal.
How democratic is the USA?
It is still open to debate as to whether it has been achieved.
In its survey of the state of democracy in 2021, The Economist Intelligence Unit found that the USA is not a “full democracy.”
“The Economist’s democracy index now groups the US among “flawed democracies,” with an overall score that ranks between Estonia and Chile. It falls short of being a top-rated “full democracy” in large part because of a fractured political culture. This growing divide is most apparent in the divergent paths between “red” and “blue” states.”
“On a 10-point scale, the US earned 7.85 points — slightly down from last year’ 7.92 and the nation’s lowest score since the EIU created the index in 2006.” [14 February 2022 Fulcrum]
Australia scored 8.96 points.
On some other measures it is even worse.
The United Nations Office of Sustainable Development dropped the US to 41st worldwide, down from its previous ranking of 32nd. The US ranks between Cuba and Bulgaria which are regarded as developing countries.
The US currently ranks 21st on the UN’s Development Program’s Index.
The question now being raised is as to whether the tradition of Australia acting as Deputy Sheriff to a flawed democracy, divided by racism and leaning towards social instability needs to be re-considered.
Being possibly drawn into war with China by a declining state, led by a Trump or his successor, is not a good idea.
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