Islamic Thought in the Twentieth Century

The first of its kind, this book provides in-depth discussions of Islamic thought across the 20th century, encompassing the breadth of self-expression in Muslim communities world-wide. Ten leading scholars explore key themes in modern Islamic thinking, including the social origins and ideological underpinnings of the late 19th-/early 20th-century Islamic reformist project, nationalism in the Muslim world; attitudes towards democracy; the science of Islamic economics; notions of family and the role of women; perceptions and constructions of the West, and aspects of Muslim thinking on Christians and Jews. It examines the emergence, evolution and importance of these themes in terms of the historical, political and social conditions of the Muslim world, and its ongoing interactions with the West. Informed by an appreciation of the unprecedented changes experienced by Muslim societies and culture since the late 19th century, the authors challenge more simplistic approaches to Islamic thought.

This collective volume will serve as an excellent reference work for students of modern and contemporary Islam, politics and international relations, and the modern history of the Islamic world. It is essential reading for all professionals dealing with the Muslim world, whether in the media, in governmental and non-governmental agencies, or as politicians or diplomats.