The Place of Islam in the Foundation of Modern Social Theory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutfi Sunar
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Central Place ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The Political ◽  
The West ◽  
The World ◽  
Considerable Resistance ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Western Hegemony ◽  
The 19Th Century

The relation between Islam and the West has a long history full of confrontation. Islam always represents the closest “other” for the West, and being otherized by it is not only a cultural but also a strategic matter. Controlling and shaping the perceptions of Islam is essential for continuing the political hegemony of the West. On this basis, the 19th century witnessed the spread of Western hegemony throughout the world, including the Middle East. In this period, although Western expansion faced considerable resistance in Muslim societies, the political, economic, military, scientific, intellectual, and cultural influence of modernity spread all over the world. The encounter between Muslim societies and the West went beyond the sheer geographical dimension. The Western vision, founded and reinforced by orientalism, considers Islam as a suppressed enemy who may make a comeback. This chapter will question the place of Islam in modern social theory. The central thesis is on Islam being not only the other of the modern Western identity but also a founder of the modern world. By discussing the central place of Islam in the debates of social theory’s founders such as Tocqueville, Marx, and Weber, Islam as part and parcel of the modern world will become apparent.

scholarly journals Middle East: New Balkans of the World?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Dr.Sc. Georgescu Stefan ◽  
Dr.Sc. Munteanu Marilena
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Ancient Egypt ◽  
Western Civilization ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
The World ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
The 19Th Century

Middle East is a region whose geopolitical dynamics has many analogies with the role of the Balkans in the first half of the 19th century and up to the 3rd decade of the 20th century, namely a "Powder keg of Europe", defined in the same period as the "Eastern Issue".Moreover, Middle East is a region located at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean Africa, and along with ancient Egypt is the cradle of Western civilization, providing for it political, economic, religious, scientific, military, intellectual and institutional models.Four millennia of civilization before Christian era did not pass without leaving a trace.Trade, currency, law, diplomacy, technology applied to works in time of war or peace, the profit based economy and the bureaucratized economy, popular and absolutist government, nationalist and universal spirit, tolerance and fanaticism – all these are not inventions of the modern world, but have their origins and methods of implementation, often even sophisticated methods, in this region.

scholarly journals Growing Appetites and Hungry Subjects: Addicts, the Undead, and the Long Arc of Theory in Western Social Science

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-133
Author(s):  
A. Jamie Saris
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Western Society ◽  
The Political ◽  
Philosophical Idea ◽  
Technological Complexity ◽  
The World ◽  
Political Economic

Abstract This paper explores the Western philosophical idea of “appetites” through the lens of “addiction.” I begin with a brief ethnographic description of a woman whose subjectivity seems to emerge only in the play of her unmanageable desire for various pharmaceuticals. In other words, she is a self-described “addict.” I then look at the relationships between addicts and the undead, especially vampires and zombies, who are seemingly enslaved to their appetites. This leads me to an analysis of the centrality of what I am calling “recursive need satisfaction” in much of Western (especially Anglophone and Francophone) Social Theory that, I argue, relies on a particular understanding of “appetite” in establishing the political-economic subjectivity that lies at the heart of market-oriented state. This same understanding also pushes this formation in a specific historical direction of increasing growth and organisational and technological complexity. As a globalised Western society in the last few decades has become ever more anxious of its place in the world, its impact on various interdependent systems, and the validity of the grand récits that served as its charter, such growth and complexity have emerged as objects of anxiety, even apocalyptic fear, and the terms “addict” and “addiction” have seemed ever more useful for modelling these concerns. I end with some reflections on how we use both zombies and addicts to think through some of the same issues of unchecked and damaging consumption.

scholarly journals La correspondencia de Ricardo Palma en la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú

Aula Palma ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 211-234
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Pérez Garay
Keyword(s):  
Research Paper ◽  
The Political ◽  
National Library ◽  
The World ◽  
Political Economic

ResumenEl presente trabajo de investigación describe y analiza la vasta correspondencia que tuvo el escritor limeño con diversos personajes del ámbito político, económico, social y cultural del Perú y del mundo, pertenecientes a la Colección Ricardo Palma de la Biblioteca Nacional delPerú.Palabras Claves: Ricardo Palma, Correspondencia, Biblioteca Nacional AbstractThis research paper describes and analyzes the vast correspondence that the Lima writer had with various characters from the political, economic, social and cultural spheres of Peru and the world, belonging to the Ricardo Palma Collection of the National Library of Peru.Keywords: Ricardo Palma, Correspondence, National Library

scholarly journals EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF «ARMED CONFLICT»: HISTORICAL, LEGAL AND THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Oleksandra Severinova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Modern World ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Methodological Aspects

The article analyzes the theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation and development of doctrinal ideas about the meaning of the concept of «armed conflict» in the history of world political and legal thought. The question of the name of the branch of law that regulates armed conflict, by analyzing its historical names such as «law of war», «laws and customs of war», «law of armed conflict», «international humanitarian law» and «international humanitarian law, used in armed conflicts». As a result of this analysis, it can be concluded that it would be most appropriate to use the terms «international humanitarian law» only in a narrow sense or «international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts», which is more cumbersome but most accurately describes the field. It is emphasized that due to the availability of new powerful weapons (economic, political, informational, cultural and weapons of mass destruction), which are dangerous both for the aggressor and for the whole world; the aggressor's desire to downplay its role in resolving conflicts in order to avoid sanctions from other countries and international organizations, as well as to prevent the loss of its authority and position on the world stage; the attempts of the aggressor countries to establish their control over the objects of aggression (including integrating them into their political, economic and security systems) without excessive damage to them is the transformation of methods and means of warfare. It is determined that the long history of the formation of the law of armed conflict has led to the adoption at the level of international law of the provision prohibiting any armed aggression in the world, which is reflected in such a principle as non-use of force or threat of force. At the same time, the UN Charter became the first international act in the history of mankind, which completely prohibited armed aggression and enshrined this principle at the international level, which is binding on all states of the modern world.

Introduction: There Was a Moment

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Luke Patey
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
The United States ◽  
The West ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
Technology Leaders ◽  
The World ◽  
Economic Engagement ◽  
Political Economic

China views the decline of the United States and the West as signal to advance its interests, norms, and values on the world stage. But sentiments that one superpower will replace another miss the bigger picture. China’s rise to the commanding heights of the global economy and world affairs is not preordained. Its potential evolution into a global superpower, with a deep presence and strong influence over economic, political, military, and culture abroad, will rather be conditioned by how China behaves toward the rest of the world, and how the world responds. The world’s other large economies, major militaries, technology leaders, and cultural hubs will be significant in shaping the future world. For developed and developing countries alike, there is recognition that economic engagement with China produces strategic vulnerabilities to their own competitiveness and foreign policy and defense autonomy. China will struggle to realize its political, economic, and military global ambitions.

On Universal History

1957 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-266
Author(s):  
E. Harris Harbison
Keyword(s):  
Modern World ◽  
Historical Writing ◽  
The West ◽  
Universal History ◽  
The World ◽  
Changing World

The problem of how to conceive and write “universal history” A is increasingly haunting the imaginations and troubling the consciences of historians in the West. We live in one world, but our historiography is still national, or at most regional. We no longer really believe that piling the known historical facts higher and higher will save us, but we still hopefully support antiquarianism and monographic research. Professional historical writing has thus lost all power to influence the man in the street because its thought-frame is parochial, myopic, and so irrelevant to the modern world. It cannot prepare us to understand the world we live in unless it casts off Leopold von Ranke's Europe-centered mentality and becomes truly “universal” in attitude and perspective. Or so it seems to one particularly articulate British historian, Geoffrey Barraclough, in History in a Changing World, a volume of essays recently published.

The Political Tradition of the Steppe*

1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agyn Khairullovich Kazymzhanov ◽  
Keith Owen Tribble
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The Political ◽  
Dense Network ◽  
General Line ◽  
The World ◽  
Political Traditions ◽  
Broad Approach

In their rapidity and chaotic character, the changes Kazakstan is experiencing create a kind of kaleidoscope. The very act of creating a state was both dramatic and unexpected. In the course of five years, referendums and changes of constitution and parliament have occurred. This calls for an attempt to etch the general line of development: whence, how and whither is the society of Kazakstan going. Such a broad approach proceeds necessarily from the premise that the modern world consists of a dense network of interrelations, into which all societies and peoples on the planet are drawn. This article examines the problem of the modern geopolitical self-determination of Kazakstan from the point of view of the Steppe and of its contribution to political traditions of the world.

Disturbing the Peace: African Warfare, Political Inversion and the Universality of the Democratic Peace Thesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Errol A. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
International Conflict ◽  
Democratic Peace ◽  
The Political ◽  
International Peace ◽  
The West ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Empirical Analyses

This article tests the applicability of the democratic peace thesis to sub-Saharan African states by examining a ‘political inversion’ thesis. This suggests that the domestic political framework of African states compels their leaders to engage in international conflict, contrary to what the democratic peace thesiests: namely, politically open African states are more likely to fight each other. This conclusion raises the issue of the universality of the democratic peace thesis; therefore, the extent to which the democratic peace is evident across other regions of the world is examined. Empirical analyses of state dyads 1950–2001 demonstrate that politically open African states are more likely to fight each other and, moreover, the democratic peace does not hold in any region outside the West. These findings support the political inversion thesis of African conflicts and challenge the suggestion that the spread of democracy will occasion international peace throughout the world.

RESPONSE

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Chang Huai-Chen
Keyword(s):  
Far East ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Slow Process ◽  
The West ◽  
The Far East ◽  
The World ◽  
Cultural Self ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The Impact ◽  
New Situation

As an Oriental, born and raised in Taiwan in strict conformity to the precepts of Buddhist and Confucian ethical patterns for human behaviour and who has spent most of her life in active business throughout the Far East, I would like to say in the first place that China’s contact with the West since the first half of the 19th century is a story full of disturbances. The slow process of adaptation and adjustment of China to the new situation created by Western aggressions was quite haphazard since China’s solid cultural self-consciousness made it underestimate the significance of the impact from the West, and particularly the impact emanating from the Anglo-Saxon part of the world.

scholarly journals Beijing Subway and the Political and Economic Development of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Yixiao Guo
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Cultural Revolution ◽  
The Political ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
Xinhua News Agency ◽  
The World ◽  
Subway System ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Beijing Subway

This research paper analyses the main purposes the Beijing subway system, which served from 1969 to now as a tool of political defense as well as a transportation system. The notion to construct the system arose in 1953, but the first section of today’s Line 1 did not open until September 1969.  Today, the Beijing subway system is the world’s busiest in terms of annual ridership and the world’s second longest subway system, ranking only behind Shanghai’s. (Xinhua News Agency, 2017, http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2017-12/30/c_1122188643.htm.) The political and economic development and trends in China in the second half of 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century, such as the Cultural Revolution and the 2008 Olympics, affected the subway system’s development greatly. This paper examines Chinese documents with the aim of providing a general understanding of the development and purpose of the Beijing system, through political, economic and technical analysis, among others, of its history. There exists almost no document, ¬¬either in English or Chinese, that analyzes the development of Beijing’s subway system. However, this topic should be considered important, as it provides an alternative way of viewing the development of China and its governing principles throughout its late-20th century and current-day history.

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