Islam Instrumentalized

Religion and Politics in Historical Perspective

Jean-Philippe Platteau

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781107155442
• eBook ISBN: 9781108515627
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Development Economics
• Index: Economics

In this book, economist Jean-Philippe Platteau addresses the question: does Islam, the religion of Muslims, bear some responsibility for a lack of economic development in the countries in which it dominates? In his nuanced approach, Platteau challenges the widespread view that the doctrine of Islam is reactionary in the sense that it defends tradition against modernity and individual freedom. He also questions the view that fusion between religion and politics is characteristic of Islam and predisposes it to theocracy. He disagrees with the substantivist view that Islam is a major obstacle to modern development because of a merging of religion and the state, or a fusion between the spiritual and political domains. But he also identifies how Islam's decentralized organization, in the context of autocratic regimes, may cause political instability and make reforms costly.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Insights from Early Modern Europe
• 3 Conflation between Religion and Politics: The Case of Islam
• 4 The Dominant System of Politico-Religious Relations in Islam: A Historical Perspective
• 5 The Rise of Islam in Conditions of State Crisis: The Case of Weak States
• 6 The Rise of Islam in Conditions of State Crisis: The Case of Kleptocratic Despotism
• 7 Islamism in Historical and International Perspective
• 8 Revivalist Movements in Other Religions
• 9 Enlightened Despotism Examined
• 10 Islam, Politics, and the Challenge of Enforcement
• Bibliography
• Index