Time will tell whether Islamism in Turkey will bring prosperity or failure

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Apr 22, 2011 at 01:15

Dear Dr Pipes:

Only time will tell whether Turkey's economy under Islamists thrives or perishes. My conviction is that Islamic system of governance and economy involves a certain amount of draconianism and force and creativity and progress cannot survive under force. Rendering irreversible punishments for reversible crimes (like chopping hands for theft), supporting non-symmetry when symmetry is perfectly possible (different rules for men and women), and denial of equal rights to different religions (Turkey is becoming Islamic nation after all) are some examples of many reasons why Islamic system of governance is failing in all part of the world where oil-related free wealth is not available for consumption. For many of us the turmoil in Islamic world is an inevitable conclusion of the choices that Islamic societies make. To many others it is not so self evident. Only time will tell.

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