Does Islam bear some responsibility for a lack of development in the countries in which it dominates? In this book, economist Jean-Philippe Platteau challenges several specific claims seeking to connect Islam with a lack of development. Through a nuanced analysis, he disputes the widespread view that the doctrine of Islam is fundamentally reactionary, defending tradition against modernity and individual freedom, and the related view that Islam is an obstacle to modern development because of a fusion between the spiritual and political domains. At the same time, his analysis identifies how Islam's decentralized organization, in the context of autocratic regimes, may cause political instability and postpone reforms. Ultimately, he emphasizes how secular authoritarian leaders in Muslim countries have tended to instrumentalize religion at the cost of widespread corruption and regressive measures, creating an unfortunate association between secularism and self-serving cynicism.