Provide an overview of both the traditional and the contemporary thinking of Muslim scholars on international relations
There are two separate sets of readings in this section. The series of articles by Atran, Hurd, Fox & Sandler, Kubalkova, Falk, Juergensmeyer, Wæver, and Haynes, deal with the general challenges that IR is facing in handling religion and its inclusion in theories of IR and world politics. Read these together and devote a section to them. The two readings by Piscatori deal with the specific question of whether Islam and Muslims can accept the “norms” of IR, especially the “Nation-State”, as the organizing unit and concept of IR. The article by Cesari considers the historical interaction between Islam and the “Nation-State” building process in much of the Muslim world. The readings by Al-Dawoody and Mahallati provide an overview of both the traditional and the contemporary thinking of Muslim scholars on international relations, as well as questions of war and peace in Sunni and the Shia Islamic thought.
In the Required Video Section, the video lecture (up to minute 45) by Charles Taylor, the leading and famous Canadian philosopher, addresses the role and interaction of religion and secularism in the modern world. Mehdi Hasan’s intense interview with the famous British scientist, Richard Dawkins is an interesting exchange on tension between beliefs in religion and science. Try to identify a few key points, from each required video that you find most interesting and relevant.
Read the following: Atran, “God and the Ivory Tower” Hurd, “Religious Resurgence” Fox & Sandler, “The Overlooked Dimension” Kubalkova, “Towards an International Political Theology” Falk, “A Worldwide Religious Resurgence in an Era of Globalization and Apocalyptic Terrorism” Juergensmeyer, “Holy Order: Religious Opposition to the Modern State” Wæver, “World Conflict over Religion: Secularism as a Flawed Solution” Piscatori, “The Theory and Practice of Territorial Pluralism” Piscatori, “The Modern Intellectual Consensus on the Nation-State” Cesari, “Religion and Politics: What Does God Have To Do With It?” Haynes, “Religion, Soft Power and International Relations” Haynes, “What do Faith-based Organizations Seek at the United Nations?” Al-Dawoody, “From Tripartite Division to Universal Humanism: Alternative Islamic Global International Relations” Mahallati, “War and Peace in Shi’i Primary Narratives and Sources” Watch the required videos: Charles Taylor: “The Religous and the Secular Divide” Richard Dawkins vs Islam – (Mehdi Hasan interview and Q&A -Richard Dawkins on Islam)
http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/08/06/god-and-the-ivory-tower/
Answer preview to provide an overview of both the traditional and the contemporary thinking of Muslim scholars on international relations
