2004-2005 Eckstein Lecture
The 2004-05 Harry Eckstein Lecture featured Alfred C. Stepan of Columbia University, who presented his lecture, 'An "Arab" More Than a "Muslim" Gap' on Thursday January 27, 2005 from 3:30-5:00PM in Social Science Plaza 1100. The lecture was free and open to the public. Stepan studies the relationship between democracy and Islam. In particular, he discovers important differences between Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries. In Arab Muslim countries there is a lack of electoral competition, which is not the case in non-Arab Muslim countries. This finding raises interesting implications for Middle Eastern politics and the study of democracy and religion.
Stepan is the Wallace S. Sayre Professor of Government at Columbia University. He previously was a Professor of Political Science, Yale University, 1976-82, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, 1987-93, then served as First Rector and President at Central European University (Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw), 1993-96, and Gladstone Professor of Government and Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford University, 1996-99. Stepan is also a Fellow at American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a member of British Academy.
Stepan has written widely on the theme of democratic development. His books include: Arguing Comparative Politics, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation, Democratizing Brazil, Rethinking Military Politics, The State and Society, and The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes.
The Eckstein Lecture is a memorial to the co-founder of the Center, Harry Eckstein, whose research and publications focused on understanding the conditions fostering democracy. This is the sixth annual Eckstein Lecture.