Uneven Modernization in the Muslim World

Modernization is a multidimensional process that enhances human welfare. The relative modernity levels of geographic units can be inferred from global migration patterns, which favor destinations offering opportunities deemed superior. On this basis, we introduce a migration-based modernity index and show that the Muslim World currently lags behind major recipient countries. The gap does not indicate stagnation. The Muslim World has been modernizing, though unevenly across time, regions, and sectors. Although existing research documents these variations, systematic analyses of differing paces and patterns of selective convergence remain scarce. This article fills that gap by distinguishing among continuous, punctuated, and latent modernization trajectories and organizing the literature around four leading explanations for persistent developmental lags: collectivist attitudes, Islamic religious tenets, Islamic legal institutions, and colonial institutional legacies. The resulting framework highlights various sectoral contrasts, such as rapid progress in health and basic education alongside persistent deficits in political and religious liberties.