In his new book, Islam and Temporal Power, social sciences lecturer Bojan Petrovic seeks to define the relationship between Islamic religion and state powers in predominantly Muslim countries. Dating as far back as the seventh century, he provides a historical review of the greatly varied role religion has played in administrative and judicial governance. He explains that social, economic and political  conditions largely dictate how closely - if at all - religion and state powers are linked, leaving room for the prospect of representative forms of government in a majority-Muslim state. 

Petrovic is a social sciences and international studies lecturer at UCI who teaches courses on the Middle East.  He received his Ph.D. in political science at UCI.