Shari'a Politics: Islamic Law and Society in the Modern World

by Robert W. Hefner (Editor)

Overview

One of the most important developments in Muslim politics in recent years
has been the spread of movements calling for the implementation of shari'a or
Islamic law. Shari'ʻa Politics maps the ideals and organization of these
movements and examines their implications for the future of democracy, citizen
rights, and gender relations in the Muslim world. These studies of eight
Muslim-majority societies, and state-of-the-field reflections by leading experts,
provide the first comparative investigation of movements for and against
implementation of shari'a. These essays reveal that the Muslim public's interest
in shari'a does not spring from an unchanging devotion to received religious
tradition, but from an effort to respond to the central political and ethical
questions of the day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253000897
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	04/04/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	344
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Robert W. Hefner is Director of the Institute on Culture, Religion, and
World Affairs at Boston University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration and
Spelling
Introduction: Shari<ayn>a Politics--Law and Society
in the Modern Muslim World Robert W. Hefner
1. Saudi Arabia: Public, Civil,
and Individual Shari<ayn>a in Law and Politics Frank E.
Vogel
2. Egypt: Cacophony and Consensus in the Twenty-first Century Nathan
J. Brown
3. Iran: Shari<ayn>a Politics and the Transformation
of Islamic Law Bahman Baktiari
4. Turkey: Islam without
Shari<ayn>a? M. Hakan Yavuz
5. Afghanistan: The Local and the
Global in the Practice of Shari<ayn>a T. Barfield
6.
Pakistan: Shari<ayn>a and the State Muhammad Qasim Zaman
7.
Nigeria: Mapping a Shari<ayn>a Restorationist Movement Paul M.
Lubeck
8. Indonesia: Shari<ayn>a Politics and Democratic
Transition Robert W. Hefner
List of Contributors
Index

What People are Saying About This

"Valuable for researchers and others who need access to surveys of Islamic politics in a variety of countries. . . . [C]an easily be adopted by teachers who would like materials that are suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate courses. . . . [A]n extremely fine book."

Clark Lombardi]]>

Valuable for researchers and others who need access to surveys of Islamic politics in a variety of countries. . . . [C]an easily be adopted by teachers who would like materials that are suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate courses. . . . [A]n extremely fine book.

Clark Lombardi

Valuable for researchers and others who need access to surveys of Islamic politics in a variety of countries. . . . [C]an easily be adopted by teachers who would like materials that are suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate courses. . . . [A]n extremely fine book.

Emory University - Michael G. Peletz

An extremely well-crafted, deeply engaging, and very timely book that will appeal to scholars across a number of academic disciplines, to foreign policy experts, and their interlocutors.

Editorial Reviews

"An extremely well-crafted, deeply engaging, and very timely book that will appeal to scholars across a number of academic disciplines, to foreign policy experts, and their interlocutors."—Michael G. Peletz, Emory University

"Valuable for researchers and others who need access to surveys of Islamic politics in a variety of countries. . . . [C]an easily be adopted by teachers who would like materials that are suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate courses. . . . [A]n extremely fine book."—Clark Lombardi, author of State Law as Islamic Law in Modern Egypt

"Shari'a Politics is Robert Hefner's sixth edited volume on developments in the Muslim world at large. . . [H]e has become an influential voice in the study of contemporary Islam in all its aspects. 48.4 2012"—Middle Eastern Studies

"In sum, the book provides a first-rate, readable overview of 'shari'a politics' in the world today. Undoubtedly, it will be widely read and referenced across academic disciplines and by policy experts."—American Ethnologist

"This interdisciplinary book challenges various misperceptions about Islamic law by revealing the dynamic relationships among the state, society, and shari'a in significant cases. It is a must reading for those who are interested in Islam, law, and politics. . . . Highly recommended."—Choice

"The volume edited by Hefner (anthropology, Boston Univ.) includes essays that analyze the status of Islamic law in eight countries. In Saudi Arabia and Iran, shari'a has a consolidated position in the legal system and receives popular support. In Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt, shari'a is constitutionally established, but its implementation continues to be a contested issue. The other three countries reflect more diversity and complexity. In Nigeria the federal state is secular, while shari'a is in place in most of the Muslim-majority states; in Indonesia the federal state is secular, while legal codes based on shari'a were passed in 53 of 470 districts and municipalities; and Turkey is a centralized secular state. Chapters examine the impacts of colonization, state-building, and local traditions, as well as the roles of governmental and societal actors, on the diverse practices of Islamic law. The contributors successfully expose both opponents and proponents of shari'a in a balanced way. This interdisciplinary book challenges various misperceptions about Islamic law by revealing the dynamic relationships among the state, society, and shari'a in significant cases. It is a must reading for those who are interested in Islam, law, and politics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. —ChoiceMarch 2012"—A. T. Kuru, San Diego State University

From the Publisher

The volume edited by Hefner (anthropology, Boston Univ.) includes essays that analyze the status of Islamic law in eight countries. In Saudi Arabia and Iran, shari'a has a consolidated position in the legal system and receives popular support. In Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt, shari'a is constitutionally established, but its implementation continues to be a contested issue. The other three countries reflect more diversity and complexity. In Nigeria the federal state is secular, while shari'a is in place in most of the Muslim-majority states; in Indonesia the federal state is secular, while legal codes based on shari'a were passed in 53 of 470 districts and municipalities; and Turkey is a centralized secular state. Chapters examine the impacts of colonization, state-building, and local traditions, as well as the roles of governmental and societal actors, on the diverse practices of Islamic law. The contributors successfully expose both opponents and proponents of shari'a in a balanced way. This interdisciplinary book challenges various misperceptions about Islamic law by revealing the dynamic relationships among the state, society, and shari'a in significant cases. It is a must reading for those who are interested in Islam, law, and politics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. —ChoiceMarch 2012

San Diego State University - A. T. Kuru

This interdisciplinary book challenges various misperceptions about Islamic law by revealing the dynamic relationships among the state, society, and shari'a in significant cases. It is a must reading for those who are interested in Islam, law, and politics. . . . Highly recommended.

Choice

Shari'a Politics is Robert Hefner's sixth edited volume on developments in the Muslim world at large. . . [H]e has become an influential voice in the study of contemporary Islam in all its aspects. 48.4 2012

Middle Eastern Studies

In sum, the book provides a first-rate, readable overview of 'shari'a politics' in the world today. Undoubtedly, it will be widely read and referenced across academic disciplines and by policy experts.

American Ethnologist

"An extremely well-crafted, deeply engaging, and very timely book that will appeal to scholars across a number of academic disciplines, to foreign policy experts, and their interlocutors." —Michael G. Peletz, Emory University

Michael G. Peletz

"Valuable for researchers and others who need access to surveys of Islamic politics in a variety of countries.... [C]an easily be adopted by teachers who would like materials that are suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate courses.... [A]n extremely fine book." —Clark Lombardi, author of State Law as Islamic Law in Modern Egypt

Clark Lombardi