Islam In World Politics

Book Summary

Over the past few decades, Islam has emerged as a political force on the international scene and Islam in World Politics analyzes the factors leading to, and the implications of this heightening of the profile of a religion. In the political sphere, there is a wide range of emphasis both in which an Islamic society might be realized and the way in which such a society might conduct its relation with the non-Muslim world. Within these different emphases are some radical tendencies. A cluster of fringe groups, broadly referred to as Islamists, have hijacked and appropriated the rhetoric of Islam, applying it to a promised "Islamic" reality to be realized once "Islam is fully applied." The essays within" Islam in World Politics "are driven by the concern to address there issues. Areas that are covered include an examination of the challenge of Islamism to the Muslim world, the sue of Islam as a political tool on the international scene, its contributions to the theory and practice of global finance, its role in gender discourse, and its articulations in the Indian Sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Arab World. The essays in this collection examine the emergence of Islam as a force in todaya (TM)s international political arena. Driven by a concern to understand factors leading to, and the implications of, this heightened political profile the contributors go beyond polemics and apologetics. The book critically examines some of the major events, movements and trends in the Islamic world over the past fifty years and their impact on the international scene. Reflecting the diversity and heterogeneity of the Muslim world, the book covers issues including: the challenge of Islamism to the Muslim world the use of Islam as a political tool on the international scene Islama (TM)s contribution to the theory and practice of global finance Islama (TM)s role in gender discourse Islama (TM)s articulations in the Indian Sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Arab world. Very little of the current literature deals with political Islam globally, and very few books go much beyond the Middle East and its terrorist groups. This volume fills that gap, providing a compelling cross-national, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary analysis of Islam as a potent political force.

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