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Islam: Issues of Political Authority and Pluralism
Abstract
Islam and the Muslim world are very much part of the current discussions on
religion and global politics. This article looks at some of the more general
debates about the gradual rise of Islam in the public and political consciousness.
It is not a systematic analysis of Islamic political systems or political
thought nor a discussion about key thinkers of the last century. It does,
however, provide a glimpse into diverse views about leadership and governance
in early and more recent Islamic history. The article concentrates more
on Sunni Islam though the author is well aware that this is not the normative
tradition in some parts of the Muslim world. Within the context of this
diversity, it looks at issues of religious diversity and how they fit into current
debates about inter-religious dialogue and pluralism.
religion and global politics. This article looks at some of the more general
debates about the gradual rise of Islam in the public and political consciousness.
It is not a systematic analysis of Islamic political systems or political
thought nor a discussion about key thinkers of the last century. It does,
however, provide a glimpse into diverse views about leadership and governance
in early and more recent Islamic history. The article concentrates more
on Sunni Islam though the author is well aware that this is not the normative
tradition in some parts of the Muslim world. Within the context of this
diversity, it looks at issues of religious diversity and how they fit into current
debates about inter-religious dialogue and pluralism.