https://padlet.com/smarguli/4kkirv976z8x en-us 2017-02-21 20:07:38 UTC 2025-10-13 01:55:28 UTC hello@padlet.com smarguli https://padlet.com/smarguli/4kkirv976z8x/wish/155290225 This infographic showcases staggering support for Sharia in Arab countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Tunisia. Sharia law’s strict principles always result in authoritarian governments. If the indoctrination of authoritarian regimes is at least partially responsible for the widespread support of Sharia, there’s more hope for Arab democracies in the future. This directly relates to Gaventa’s Power and Powerlessness. The Arab world’s support for Sharia could be a manifestation of governments making citizens believe that Sharia is in their best interest. Grassroots leaders are in the best position to intervene. If local clerics denounce Sharia, political sentiments could change village by village.]]> 2017-02-21 20:10:09 UTC https://padlet.com/smarguli/4kkirv976z8x/wish/155290225 smarguli https://padlet.com/smarguli/4kkirv976z8x/wish/155306121 The status of women in the Arab world is both a cause and effect of the absence of democracies. Israel, which is in the Middle East but not the Arab world, is one of the most democratic nations in the world. It is also tied with Sweden in having the most gender equality. I think that elevating status of women in the Arab world will both undermine religious extremism and encourage democracy. The average schools of schooling a Pakistani boy has is nine, whereas that of a girl is seven (CIA World Factbook). Malala Yousafzai advocated for the education of women in Pakistan. Following the media attention she received, young Pakistani women began to blog about their experiences with educational suppression. Pakistan continues to struggle with educational access, but with increasing pressure on the international stage, we can expect an improvement within the next decade.  ]]> 2017-02-21 21:18:50 UTC https://padlet.com/smarguli/4kkirv976z8x/wish/155306121