scholarly journals Contemporary Western Scholarship on Islam: An Appraisal of Selected ‘Introductory’ Reference Works on Islamic History

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 253-274
Author(s):  
Tauseef Ahmad Parray
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
The West ◽  
Islamic History ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Student Community ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Western Scholarship ◽  
Methodological Approaches

Writing on Islamand things Islamic has a long history in the West, but has seen a growth in 20thcentury and an unprecedented surgeafter the events of 9/11 (2001)—both because of Islam’s ‘global’ spread and ‘growing global impact’ as well as its diverse interpretations and explanations. Among this plethora of literature, a major portion is devoted to the Islamic historyand its inter-related aspects, in the form of ‘introductory’ reference books.These are primarily targeted for (under) graduate student community as well as for the general people interested in knowing about the faith and beliefs of 1.6 billion Muslims, living globally. This study, in this context, attempts to present an evaluation and brief content-analysis of four (4) latest works by the Western academics (mostly ‘Islamicists’) on Islamic history, published in between 2009 and 2016 (and referring to their latest editions as well). Theoretical in nature, following both descriptive and comparative methodological approaches, this study attempts to (i) get clues of the recent trends, tendencies and tenors in the English (predominantly  American) scholarship on Islamic history; and (ii) identify the main topics, themes and issues covered under the broader rubric ofIslamic history/ civilization in these works. The study agrues that such mins of appraisal and evaluation helps in understanding the main themes/ topics discussed under the broader rubric ofIslamic historyas well as helps in knowing and understanding the diverse scholarly approaches adopted in studying different aspects of Islamic history—from classical to contemporary eras.

scholarly journals Utility-Scale Solar in the Great Lakes: Analyzing Community Reactions to Solar Developments

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1677
Author(s):  
Emma Uebelhor ◽  
Olivia Hintz ◽  
Sarah B. Mills ◽  
Abigail Randall
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Local Newspaper ◽  
Great Lakes States ◽  
Utility Scale ◽  
Newspaper Articles

In the coming years, it is expected that reliance on utility-scale solar projects for energy production will increase exponentially. As a result, communities throughout the Midwest will become potential solar facility hosts. Previous research has sought to identify factors that influence community support and opposition to solar developments throughout the country. This paper builds upon prior research by examining community perceptions about the economic, environmental, local and global impact of solar projects in four Great Lakes states using a content analysis of local newspaper articles. Ultimately, this paper identifies the most common perceptions of solar facilities and offers some preliminary suggestions on strategies to mitigate the most prevalent concerns.

Sensory Perceptual Experience in Balata Refugee Camp

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Shahd Adnan M. Qzeih ◽  
Rafooneh Mokhtarshahi Sani
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Refugee Camp ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
The West ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
The World

Wars and conflicts have caused millions of people to seek asylum outside their homelands and the issue of refugee camps has become a pressing subject in international policy discussions. Conflicts continue to escalate in different parts of the world, especially in Middle Eastern countries. In 1948, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict forced displacement of many Palestinian people. The resulting camps have developed into cluster camp shelters of three to four stories in the West Bank, Gaza, and other regions around historical Palestine; some are perceived to be like gated communities. Being self-sufficient environments, refugee camps have rarely been approached from the perspective of urban psychology. This research deals with sensory perceptual analysis of Balata, the largest refugee camp in the West Bank of Palestinian Territories. Balata is situated in Nablus and has raised four generations of refugees since its establishment. In order to explore the spatial characteristics of such specific environmental experiences, the research adopted a mixed-method approach – systematically evaluating the related literature on sensory perceptual spaces and applying content analysis methods. The study modified the sensory slider tool of Malnar and Vodvarka according to the framework matrix based on the content analysis. Moreover, the case study analysis consisted of observation of the chosen area and 30 in-depth interviews with refugees who were forced out of their homes and settled in the camp as well as some who were born in the camp. The research results show that investigating what camp residents perceive of the five senses can capture meaningful sensory perceptual experiences and can generate a holistic mental image of the refugee camp. Particularly, perceptions of the built environment reflect the difficulty of life experiences. The study concludes that the characteristics of camps in this seventy-year-old conflict environment may not be found in other parts of the world.

To Do No Harm: Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Demands Political Engagement

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronak B. Patel ◽  
Hannah B. Wild
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Sudan ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
The West ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Humanitarian Response ◽  
Do No Harm ◽  
Public Responsibility ◽  
Recent Trends

AbstractHumanitarian aid in settings of conflict has always been fraught with challenges. In the absence of political engagement, however, manipulation by state authorities, however, have the potential to pervert aid intervention to inflict harm. South Sudan exemplifies how states may abuse the humanitarian response to retreat from public responsibility, divert funds to further violence and conflict and dictate the distribution of aid. Recent trends toward nationalist policies in the West that favor disengagement and limited military strikes have the very effect of allowing this abuse to transform humanitarian aid into a tool for harm. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:567–568)

Interviews with Li Xueqin: The Life of a Chinese Historian: Part Two

Early China ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 36-55 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Student ◽  
African Studies ◽  
University Campus ◽  
The West ◽  
Tsinghua University ◽  
Academic Communities

The following interview with Li Xueqin took place at his home in the Tsinghua University campus on June 5, 2012. In the early 1980s, I was a graduate student at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and I first became acquainted with Li when he was on a visit to SOAS. My interview began with questions about Li's experiences travelling to the West soon after China first opened up and his contributions towards building a bridge between the Chinese and Western academic communities and his.

Combating Fake News Online

2020 ◽  
pp. 273-289
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Çömlekçi
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Political Polarization ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Data Journalism ◽  
Fact Checking ◽  
Methodological Approaches

In today's post-truth environment, besides the increase in political polarization, the rapid spread of fake news infringes on society. In the struggle with fake news, fact-checking services have begun to play an important role. The aim of this chapter is to highlight how fact-checking services work, what their strategies and limitations are, their interaction with users, and the digital tools they use in such interactions. Thus, the platforms Teyit.org (Confirmation) and Doğruluk Payı (Share of Truth) that operate in Turkey have been chosen as exemplary cases. In the study, the content analysis and the in-depth interview methodological approaches have been used together. As a conclusion, it has been revealed that these aforementioned fact-checking services increase their activities during election times, adopt the principles of political impartiality and economic transparency, use the practices of data journalism, interact with users, and try to create a digital literacy ecosystem as an ultimate goal.

The Qur’anic Calf Episode Between Orientalism and Islamic Tradition

2020 ◽  
pp. 265-317
Author(s):  
Michael E. Pregill
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
The West ◽  
Biblical Story ◽  
Golden Calf ◽  
Islamic Tradition ◽  
Western Scholarship ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Radical Revision

This chapter discusses the qur’anic Golden Calf episode as it is traditionally interpreted in both Muslim exegesis and Western scholarship. The qur’anic references to the image worshipped by the Israelites are usually understood as depicting the Calf as alive or at least possessing some semblance of life—as ? lowing image of a calf, as the Qur’an puts it. Further, the Qur’an seems to posit that the Calf was made and animated by a character called al-sāmirī—the “Samaritan”—and not Aaron as in the biblical story. Western scholars and traditional Muslim commentators have always agreed on this interpretation of the qur’anic version of the episode. However, this chapter shows that Western scholars have generally relied upon the explanation of the episode in Muslim exegesis or tafsīr, misunderstanding the role that early Muslim commentators played in introducing a radical revision of the story that was quite different in major details from the account found in the Qur’an itself. This can be demonstrated by examining historical translations of the Qur’an in the West, beginning with some of the earliest translations and commentaries of the medieval and early modern periods in Europe. In the specific case of the Calf narrative, Western scholars’ reliance on tafsīr has typically been motivated not by a desire to validate the claims of Muslim authorities, but rather by the assumption that Islam is at its root thoroughly dependent upon Judaism. This assumption has colored not only the overarching approach to the qur’anic narrative per se, but also the characterization of a number of rabbinic traditions that have been cited as the sources of that narrative.

scholarly journals Communist heritage representation gaps and disputes

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Sima
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Heritage Tourism ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Integration ◽  
Form Of Government ◽  
Recent Trends

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore how different stakeholders represent communist and revolution heritage for tourism, with a case-study on Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The research attempts to identify gaps and tensions between representation makers on communist heritage tourism. Design/methodology/approach The research employs a range of qualitative methods in order to explore communist heritage tourism representation from different perspectives: content analysis of secondary data in the form of government, industry and media destination promotional material; interviews with a range of representation producers (government, industry and media); focus groups with potential tourists; and content analysis of user generated content under the form of blogs by actual visitors to Bucharest. Findings Findings reveal that there are gaps between the “official” or government representations of communism and revolution heritage and “unofficial” or industry, media and tourists’ representations. The research confirms and builds on Light’s (2000a, b) views that communist heritage is perceived as “problematic” by government officials and that attempts have been made to reinterpret it in a different light. The process of representation is made difficult by recent trends such as the increase in popularity of communism heritage tourism in countries such as Germany or Hungary. The potential of communist and revolution heritage to generate tourism is increasingly being acknowledged. However, reconciliation with “an unwanted” past is made difficult because of the legacy of communism and the difficulties of transition, EU-integration, economic crisis or countless political and social crisis and challenges. The “official” and “unofficial” representations successfully coexist and form part of the communism and revolution heritage product. Research limitations/implications The research attempts to look at the representation of communism heritage from different angles, however, it does not exhaust the number of views and perspectives that exist on the topic. The research only records the British and Romanian perspectives on the topic. The topic is still in its infancy and more research is needed on communism heritage tourism and representation. Originality/value The research identifies and explores gaps, agreements and disagreements over the representation of communist and revolution heritage in Bucharest, Romania.

scholarly journals Characteristics of educational sciences research activity in European post-socialist countries in the period 1996 to 2013: Content analysis approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejana Bouillet ◽  
Maja Jokić
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Yugoslav Republic ◽  
The Common ◽  
Educational Sciences ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Criterion Variables

In European post-socialistic countries or more commonly known as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries, regardless of their differences and specifics, the common communist and post-communist legacies in the field of educational sciences are still recognisable. The aim of this article is to explore research activity in the educational sciences in 15 CEE countries: 11 EU member states and 4 from the former Yugoslav Republic in the period from 1996 to 2013. The purpose of this research is to recognise the specificity and dynamics of subject and content issues, and development of methodological approaches in the educational science research. The sample consists of abstracts of 2,395 papers by CEE authors published in 265 journals indexed in Scopus between 1996 and 2013. Content analysis was applied, where the abstracts were grouped into specifically created categories describing the content and methods of the paper and analysed on the basis of two criterion variables – CEE and non-CEE or international journals. The χ2 test showed that the field of educational sciences in 15 European post-socialist countries changed over time in terms of quantity, content and methods, becoming more expansive and diverse, which is recognisable in papers published both in international and in CEE journals.

Adequacies and deficiencies of alpine and subalpine treeline studies in the national parks of the western USA

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clayton J. Whitesides ◽  
David R. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Scale Analysis ◽  
The West ◽  
Western Usa ◽  
Alpine Treeline ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Geomorphic Processes

To mitigate the impact of direct human activity on treeline pattern and process, much alpine treeline research in the western USA has been conducted in nationally protected areas. The use of treeline as a proxy for climate change has been assessed in parks throughout the west but often at the expense of geology or geomorphology as controls of treeline variation. The dissimilar geology and geomorphic processes of the western national parks suggest that treeline may respond differently between national parks when subjected to disturbance. Therefore, predicted vegetation response to disturbance across the western USA may provide a limited assessment of change beyond fine-scale analysis due to data collection from a limited number of national parks containing alpine treeline. We performed a content analysis on previous research that examined alpine treeline in national parks and classified each treeline study as anthropogenic, orographic/edaphic, or climatic according to the primary factor attributed to treeline control. Results indicated that the three types of treeline are not uniformly studied. Climatic treeline is most commonly studied whereas anthropogenic and orographic/edaphic studies are often lacking. Furthermore, several western national parks are entirely devoid of anthropogenic and orographic treeline research. Similar findings exist for treeline studies in protected places worldwide. More research in protected places is required to broaden our understanding of multiple treeline processes across both regional and worldwide extents.

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