(CNN) -- The West is understandably nervous about the election of Mohamed Morsi. The president-elect of Egypt is taking charge of a febrile situation. The economy is contracting and human rights abuses are rampant -- attacks on Coptic churches by Islamic groups have forced an estimated 100,000 Christians to flee the country. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood is philosophically committed to creating a state governed by Islamic law, and some say that his victory poses a threat to Israel. Now he wants to reach out to Iran. But it would be wrong to conclude that Islamic democracy is a contradiction in terms. Whatever new state emerges in Egypt almost certainly won't be democratic in the liberal, European tradition, and there will be a constant fight to protect the rights of women and religious minorities.
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Timothy Stanley: Many worry that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood leader will bring theocracy
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But Stanley says historic and modern evidence shows Islamic societies can be democratic
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He says Mali, Bangladesh and Morocco seek balance between Islam and openness
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Stanley: Brotherhood (and military) in Egypt respecting democratic process so far
So far, political @placeholder has facilitated, not hindered, the building of a democratic country.