The Future of Democracy in the Middle East

Keynote address for the 2006 University Scholars Day delivered by Dr. Emile Sahliyeh. This keynote speaker discusses major reasons and issues relating to the lack of democratization in the Middle East to date

University Scholars Day

Keynote address for the 2006 University Scholars Day delivered by Dr. Emile Sahliyeh. This keynote speaker discusses major reasons and issues relating to the lack of democratization in the Middle East to date

University Scholars Day

Presentation for the 2012 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on the relationship between the global drug trade and the corruption of government officials

University Scholars Day

This paper explores the relationship between the global drug trade and the corruption of government officials

University Scholars Day

This paper discusses research on Palestinian perspectives on peace with Israel

University Scholars Day

Presentation for the 2009 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on the impact of indigenous movements in Latin America

University Scholars Day

Presentation for the 2006 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on Palestinian perspectives on peace with Israel

Determining Democracy in the Organization of the Islamic Conference

Objectives: We determine the conditions that account for change in the realized level of political rights and civil liberties within the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Methods: We use ordered logit to assess the impact of religious pluralism and fragmentation and related controls on changes in Freedom House Political Rights and Civil Liberties scores at five‐year intervals between 1976 and 2004. Results: Findings suggest that the presence of non‐Islamic religious groups within OIC states leads to an increase in political rights, while the presence of Islamic groups practicing a version of the faith not officially recognized by the state reduced political rights and civil liberties. Conclusions: Islam\u27s influence on democratization does not fall neatly into either the “pro” or “con” categories that have so strongly defined the relevant literature. Islam\u27s influence is, instead, variable and contingent on the wider degree of religious characteristics within each state