Serhan Tanriverdi
Contemporary Islamic Thought
Dr. Ermin Sinanovic
Reflection Paper
The Recent Engagement of Contemporary Islamic Thought with Modernity in the West
Modernization theory has been one of the master theoretical narratives to understand the major institutional and cultural transformation from traditional societies to modern ones. It was developed by the founders of sociology and has dominated the widespread understanding and explanations of many social differentiation processes including rationalization, individualization, urbanization, and secularization for several decades. Thus, sociologists believed that the consequences of modernization were unavoidable route and common destinations and patters for modern or all
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They suggest that we should re-systematize and correct the classical theory of modernization in the light of multiple modernities frameworks because multiple modernities do not assume that global modernity is derived from the West as a single pattern (source) and describe the possibility of a plural modernity experiences. In fact, there are many modernities, not only one single patter of modernization. These developments forced sociologists for a paradigm shift in the dominant one-side understanding of western modernity.
In this context, Islam and the discourse of western Muslim intellectuals have gradually gained visibility and significance through the continuing migration and the growth of new generations in the western societies. Western Islam also has emerged in the hearth of modernity; yet did not follow the same patters of classical modernization trends. However, it could not escape the hegemonic influence of modernity. As a result, western Islam is emerging not only as a response to the challenges (premises) of modernity, but also through a ‘transformative dialectical engagement’ with the ethos of modernity, which gradually pave the path towards the rise of Islamic modernism (Islamic modernity) in the west. Hence, the multiple modernities thesis serves as a more adequate theoretical approach than the prevailing modernization, the secularization perspective or many other approaches to
Change is an inalienable piece of society. Social orders are always showing signs of change to adjust themselves to the contemporary lifestyle. Social researchers generally utilize the term modernization to allude to the procedure through which
Beginning with Muhammad’s age from the start of 7th century Islam, Islamic culture and politics have gone a great many events and occurrences. Throughout all of its years, it has boasted both a rich culture and technological/intellectual advancements. The preservation of the Quran, developments in mathematics, and the continued emphasis on respect and charitable nature are just some examples of Islamic achievement. However, as with any growing civilization, Islam has evolved beyond what it originated as. The cultural and political life of Islamic civilization beginning in the 7th century to the end of the Abbasids of the 13th century underwent many changes such as the deteriorating view of women in society and the shift from elected caliphates to dynastical caliphate. But, one aspect that persisted were the religious beliefs and traditions followed by the Islamic people.
In conclusion, the rapid regions of Islam kept its original foundation while refreshing its political and economic design. The administrative phases of Islam connect to the experimental reign of classical Rome, as they also experimented with multiple political leaders- using more than 26 leaders! Islam’s continuity of Sharia’s policy also connects to the American loyalty to early documents, as the United States’ government continues to reference the Declaration of
Over time some societies become more modern than others creating an unequal balance among other states globally. It is the thought that the modernization theory in some societies, are left behind because of advances in technology and within the economy also (Macionis and Plummer, 2012:p 306). Rostow (1990: p12) suggested that the modernization theory is created by an outside government or corporation to introduce new technologies and build industries to make money. As the four phases of modernization are explained above, it is simple to understand how these societies built upon modernization can create global inequalities and unequal balance within an underdeveloped society. However,
The history of the Islamic world has been one of weak state institutions and state underperformance, coupled with a high prevalence of violence, both by the state and by individuals. A major reason for these negative trends has been the role of political Islam in privileging homogeneity over diversity, in stifling dissent in public and private life, and the societal stagnation that follows such rigid controls. Malaysia and Indonesia have been notable exceptions to the underperformance of Islamic cultures.
There are many ways that the Islam and “The West” can be seen as competing global systems between 1500 and 1800. By the late 17th century, Islamic power began to retreat while the European economic and military imperialism began to rise. The main focuses to European success, were the nation wide support systems for their naval and their very condescending warships. The Portuguese were singularly active along the West coast of India and Islamic influence remained strong because of their comparison with the native populations. Muslim control of the "Spice Islands" and many different neighboring regions was shown by the success of Acheh, an Islamic state on the northeastern part of Sumatra. It provided a counterbalance to the Portuguese existence
Chapter 14 in the book Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective of the Past by Herrry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler is mainly about Muhammad, the prophet, and his world, the expansion of Islam, economy and society of the early Islamic world, and its values and cultural exchanges.
The contemporary world of Islam faces an uphill battle defending itself from modern day misconceptions and the forced involvement with geopolitics. Islam struggles with the western world’s perception of the religion and cultural understanding. Modern day Muslims will have to overcome insurmountable hurdles in an attempt to rebuild the diversity and complexity within the Islam faith. Islam is in a constant battle with Western Civilization and its forced power and ideology on the Middle East. The current religious struggle between the Middle East and the West derives from thousands of years of bloodshed and conflict between the worlds three major religions; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Blood that was shed during a period of holy wars and the ever expanding ruling powers such as Greece and Rome. The candle of hatred burns in modern times with the presences of radical extremist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda that continue to ignite hatred towards the West by manipulating the Qur’an and preaching concepts that conflict with the laws of Islam.
Central Asia, an area for millennia dominated by the nomadic horse people, whom brought their beliefs with them. People of Central Asia believed in all kinds of gods in different ways as a result of their history. The most famous religions of Central Asia are Islam and Buddhism, and Christianity also has a long history in Central Asia. However, the religion has been changed over time and the existence of some religions are in danger such as Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. Zoroastrianism and Buddhism were prominent religions in Central Asia prior to the arrival of Islam, and the Islam religion is getting bigger in Central Asia. Why is it problem that Islam is getting bigger religion rather than others? Spreading specific religion means getting lose the other religion. The balance is important because the thoughts of people, and tradition, and culture is a part of culture, and it affects to thought in the area. Especially, young people are affected from the religion about education The young generation will make next generation; however, is it possible to stop the disappearance of one of the native culture, the religion? The period which people live changed that’s why the environment is also change. Even though the religion and people though has been changing, people can prevent the disappearance with their mind. From this essay, you can see why the religion has been
Modernization of indigenous culture is nothing uncommon and happens on a daily basis. Time is the only variation between subjects. Depending on many factors, a culture can be transformed over a long period of time or just overnight. The modernization of North America and Western Europe occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries and has since spread to many Eastern European and Asian countries (Macionis, 2011). Modernization is a combination of sorts, including industrialization and urbanization and is defined as the transformation of a society or culture from a rural and agrarian condition to a secular, urban, and industrial one (Macionis, 2011). Modernization is not necessarily modern in the general sense or a revolutionary view; it is
Modernity, it is a macro process of transition from traditional to modern society. “Formation of a modern political map of the world began in early 1800 in Western Europe and maybe characterized as the product of the twin revolutions.” European colonization of the New World, the economic and political development of new territories led to significant changes in the political map. Modernity it is a complex of multi-faceted process that took a place in Europe during the 18th century and had covered all aspects of society. The modernity of the production meant the industrialization - is constantly growing use of machines. In the social sphere modernization is closely linked with urbanization, an unprecedented growth of cities, which led to prevailing in the economic life of society. In the political sphere modernity meant the democracy of political structures, laying the preconditions for the formation of a civil society and rule of law. In the spiritual realm associated with secularization -: the release of all spheres of public and private life from the separation of religion and the church, their worldliness and intensive development of literacy, education, scientific knowledge. All of these are inextricably linked to each other processes of change emotional attitudes of man,
Historians, specifically American historians of the 21st century have demonstrated an interest in the Middle East in Islam, due to Americans frequent contact with the Middle East in the early 1960s. Islam and the Middle East have played a remarkable role in Americans discussion and reaction to the events that took place on September 11th, 2001. During this time Americans were beginning to regard the Middle East, Muslims, and Islam as one entity. Americans and the world regarded the Middle East as Islam and Islam as the Middle East. Thus, this correlation between the two made Muslims say Muslim Americans and Muslims in America as less western and more of another, but they were also seen as untrustworthy individuals. Additionally, prior to the September 11th, attacks and an after effect of September 11, was that Muslim men were violent and Muslim women as oppressed individuals. Thus, the perception of Islamophobia and the threat it brings to western society has impacted the discussion of Islamophobia in America.
Modernization theory is a hypothesis used to clarify the procedure of modernization that a country experiences as it moves from a simple society to a modern one. Dependency theory is the idea that assets spill out of a fringe of poor and immature states to a centre of rich states, enhancing the latter to the detriment of the former. These two theories contrast in that modernization theory clarifies how created states work and develop, whereas dependency theory outline how work and develop are restricted. Modernization theory clarifies the advancement and improvement of innovation in more steady regions of the world (Culp, 2014). Dependency theory looks at the impacts that modernization in one district has on different parts of the world. Dependency theory is more comprehensive than modernization theory. Modernization theory emphasises that instruction, innovation and broad communications are noteworthy reasons why created districts pull ahead from others. Be that as it may, modernization theory does not operate on a worldwide scale where the assets, work and power originate to make this advancement conceivable. In modernization theory, the majority of the advancements that local areas or states make originate from an aggregate interior exertion.
Modernisation, on the other hand, is a “conceptual framework that articulated a common set of assumptions about the nature of American society and its ability to transform a world perceived as both materially and culturally deficient” (Latham, 2000). Specifically, modernisation theorists posited a sharp distinction between traditional and modern societies. They took for granted that economic development, from traditional to modern, proceeded along a single straight, unambiguous line. Finally, modernisation advocates expected that contact with vital modern societies would accelerate progress in stagnant traditional societies.
There are many different perspectives on the growth of modernity. Society is constantly changing as more time passes by. People like Emile Durkheim and Max Weber both offer their own individual perspective on how the growth of modernity came about and how we have come to understand today’s society. In the 1890s period Emile Durkheim a sociologist, in France watched the transformation of society go from a ‘primitive’ stance into something more complex also known as ‘organic solidarity’. Max Weber a German sociologist on the other hand, his view was in regards to how the growth of government was a driving force in modernity to maintain order, organisation and administration of specialised functions. Both theses sociologists’ theories are