ISLAM, WOMEN, AND POLITICS - THE DEMOGRAPHY OF ARAB COUNTRIES

This article examines three propositions that underlie many interpretations of the demography of Arab countries: that Arab countries do poorly in terms of demographic indicators, that this is due to Islam, and that the impact of Islam operates through the way in which it defines a low status for women. After reviewing the available data on fertility and health, the article critically examines the claim that the high natality of Arab countries derives directly from religious doctrine, or indirectly through Islam's effect on the status of women. It argues that simplistic hypotheses linking Islam and the status of women cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for observed demographic patterns, and that a better understanding of demographic change must include attention to the political context of fertility and health behavior.