Islam and Liberalism in the Perspective of Joseph A. Massad: A Critique of the Western Narrative of Democracy

Anwar Sanusi (Universitas Islam Negeri Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon)
Iin Isnaini (Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)

Islam Transformatif : Journal of Islamic Studies
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): January-June 2026

Abstract This article examines Joseph A. Massad’s thoughts on the relationship between Islam and liberalism, particularly the “democratic assault” on the Islamic world and the response of Islamic values. Massad argues that Western liberal claims regarding the undemocratic nature of Islam are not objective facts but rather genealogical constructions rooted in Orientalism and cultural imperialism. This study employs a descriptive-analytical qualitative method with a socio-intellectual approach. Primary data were obtained through a documentary study of Islam in Liberalism (2015), supported by literature on Islam and liberalism as well as postcolonial theory. The analysis employs Michel Foucault’s genealogy to trace the power-knowledge relations within Western democratic discourse. This study demonstrates that Massad deconstructs the Western narrative that positions Islam as the antithesis of democracy and reveals the efforts of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France to shape Islamic theology in accordance with their colonial and imperial interests. The main findings of this article indicate that (1) the construction of a “democratic West” identity always requires a “despotic Islam” as its antithesis; (2) Western powers’ efforts to modernize Islam constitute a form of covert cultural imperialism; and (3) a Foucauldian-based intellectual genealogical approach can uncover the hidden power relations behind the discourse on democracy and Islam. This article is expected to contribute to critical studies on the relationship between Islam and liberalism amid increasingly complex global geopolitical dynamics.   Abstract Artikel ini mengkaji pemikiran Joseph A. Massad tentang hubungan Islam dan liberalisme, khususnya “serangan demokrasi” terhadap dunia Islam dan respons nilai-nilai keislaman. Massad berpendapat bahwa klaim liberal Barat mengenai ketidakdemokratisan Islam bukan fakta objektif, melainkan konstruksi genealogis yang berakar pada Orientalisme dan imperialisme budaya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif-analitis dengan pendekatan sosial-intelektual. Data primer diperoleh melalui studi dokumenter terhadap Islam in Liberalism (2015), didukung literatur tentang Islam-liberalisme dan teori poskolonial. Analisis menggunakan genealogi Michel Foucault untuk menelusuri relasi kuasa-pengetahuan dalam wacana demokrasi Barat. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa Massad membongkar narasi Barat yang menempatkan Islam sebagai antitesis demokrasi serta mengungkap upaya Amerika Serikat, Britania Raya, dan Prancis membentuk teologi Islam sesuai kepentingan kolonial dan imperial mereka. Temuan utama artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa (1) konstruksi identitas "Barat demokratis" selalu membutuhkan "Islam yang despotik" sebagai antitesisnya; (2) upaya modernisasi Islam oleh kekuatan Barat merupakan bentuk imperialisme budaya terselubung; dan (3) pendekatan genealogi intelektual berbasis Foucauldian mampu mengungkap relasi kuasa yang tersembunyi di balik wacana demokrasi-Islam. Artikel ini diharapkan berkontribusi pada kajian kritis tentang relasi Islam dan liberalisme di tengah dinamika geopolitik global yang semakin kompleks.