Islamic Political Thought: An Introduction

by Gerhard Bowering

Overview

In sixteen concise chapters on key topics, this book provides a rich, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to Islamic political thought from the birth of Islam to today, presenting essential background and context for understanding contemporary politics in the Islamic world and beyond. Selected from the acclaimed Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought, and focusing on the origins, development, and contemporary importance of Islamic political ideas and related subjects, each chapter offers a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to its topic. Written by leading specialists and incorporating the latest scholarship, the alphabetically arranged chapters cover the topics of authority, the caliphate, fundamentalism, government, jihad, knowledge, minorities, modernity, Muhammad, pluralism and tolerance, the Qur'an, revival and reform, shari_a (sacred law), traditional political thought, 'ulama' (religious scholars), and women. Read separately or together, these chapters provide an indispensable resource for students, journalists, policymakers, and anyone else seeking an informed perspective on the complex intersection of Islam and politics.The contributors are Gerhard Bowering, Ayesha S. Chaudhry, Patricia Crone, Roxanne Euben, Yohanan Friedmann, Paul L. Heck, Roy Jackson, Wadad Kadi, John Kelsay, Gudrun Krämer, Ebrahim Moosa, Armando Salvatore, Aram A. Shahin, Emad El-Din Shahin, Devin J. Stewart, SherAli Tareen, and Muhammad Qasim Zaman.A new afterword discusses the essays in relation to contemporary political developments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691164823
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	03/29/2015
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Gerhard Bowering is professor of Islamic studies at Yale University and the editor of The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought.

Table of Contents

Introduction, Gerhard Bowering 1

Authority, Roy Jackson 25

Caliphate, Wadad Kadi and Aram A. Shahin 37

Fundamentalism, Roxanne Euben 48

Government, Emad El-Din Shahin 68

Jihad, John Kelsay 86

Knowledge, Paul L. Heck 105

Minorities, Yohanan Friedmann 123

Modernity, Armando Salvatore 135

Muhammad, Gerhard Bowering 152

Pluralism and Tolerance, Gudrun Krämer 169

Qur'an, Gerhard Bowering 185

Revival and Reform, Ebrahim Moosa and SherAli Tareen 202

Shari'a, Devin J. Stewart 219

Traditional Political Thought, Patricia Crone 238

'Ulama', Muhammad Qasim Zaman 252

Women, Ayesha S. Chaudhry 263

Contributors 273

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

"Praise for Princeton's previous edition: [U]nprecedented . . . [A] truly impressive opus in content, organization, and diversity. . . . Though written for educated nonspecialists, this book has plenty of historical and contemporary wisdom and information to offer diplomats, researchers, students, journalists, and even some Islamic specialists and scholars confronting today's complex and challenging political milieu."

Choice

"Praise for Princeton's previous edition: [L]ucid and engaging . . . Enlightening and challenging . . . [A] work of high-quality erudition packaged in an accessible manner which will benefit a wider readership."

Times Literary Supplement

"This is a book of major importance for Muslims, particularly in the West."—-Murad Wilfried Hofmann, Muslim World Book Review

From the Publisher