The history of the Islamic world has been marked by weak state institutions and state underperformance, coupled with a high prevalence of violence, both on the part of the State and of individuals. One of the main reasons for these negative trends lies in the role of political Islam in privileging homogeneity over diversity, in the stifling of dissent in public and private life, and in the societal stagnation that follows such rigid controls. Malaysia and Indonesia are notable exceptions to the underperformance of Islamic cultures. Underperforming government institutions fail their citizens in many ways. Institutions can fail in education, economics, military/police, religion, social sphere and due to institutional intolerance towards cultural diversity . The role of government institutions is to take care of citizens by guaranteeing them the freedom to participate in certain events and the freedom to participate in others. Governments must protect their citizens from harm, whether from foreign states, fellow citizens, or the government itself. Institutions must provide citizens with the freedom to educate themselves, find sustainable employment, participate socially, practice their religion, express their opinions and advocate for change and, overall, to live a full and meaningful life. Institutions must maintain stability while providing choices for a better life, be sensitive to the needs of individuals, interact and adapt to a changing world. An underperforming state fails its citizens in these basic needs and rights. In this regard, societies dominated by political Islam are indeed failing their people. Islamic societies fail their people militarily. Often the military is the only segment of government that functions coherently in administration in Egypt and Iran, New York: SUNY Press, 2012. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1505542 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1505542, p. 48.[15] Afsah, Ebrahim (2008). "The contested universalities of international law. Islam's struggle against modernity", Journal of the History of International Law, Vol. 10: p. 259-307. , p. 305.[16] Amin, M. (ed.). (2012). After spring: economic transitions in the Arab world. New York: Oxford University Press, p.31.[17] Ibid, p. 15.[18] OnlineVlieger, A. (2011). Domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates: victims of trafficking? Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2011-32, p.6.[19] Khoo, BT, Hadiz, VR (June 2010). Critical Connections: Islamic Politics and Political Economy in Indonesia and Malaysia. (239). Institute of Developing Economies, Mihama Ward, Chiba City, p.. 3.