There many similarities between Islamic philosophy and Western governance, according to academic N Doran Hunter.

The political science professor from the Minnesota State University believes that every human shares the same basic values.

"These basic values formed our cultures," he told a crowd of 40 at the Malaysia-American Commission on Educational Exchange in Kuala Lumpur.

Hunter claimed that life, health, liberty, prosperity, education and justice are the universal values that everyone share irregardless of race and religion.

Therefore, he reasoned that Quranic teachings are similarly propounding the same basic values.

"So it is not politics that create our governance but rather it is our culture which determines the governance," he explained.

Hunter claimed that even if the government is dysfunctional, as long as there are good values in the society's culture, the community will thrive.

Emotional creatures

He further gave examples of principles in the Quran which proves that there are indeed convergence between Islam and Western values.  

"The Islamic concept of  khalifah as a representative of Allah has similar duties of our public delegates in guarding the community's interest.

"Whereas, amanah which has the idea of public office is our western public trust," he said.

 

Hunter however admitted that humans are emotional creatures and therefore vulnerable to negative feelings such as pride and greed.

"But we are blessed with rationality and that is suppose to help us in making judicious decisions," he said.

Therefore, he explained being human also means exercising self control to these destructive forces.