Unit 2 Society and Economy in the Islamic World
The Institute of Asian Cultures, Sophia University
Unit Leader: KISAICHI Masatoshi
Islamic Area Studies Unit 2 Research Office
The Institute of Asian Cultures, Sophia University
7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3238-3162; +81-3-3238-3697 Fax: +81-3-3238-3162
E-mail: y-hosonu@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp
Unit 2 Research Themes and Activities
The basic research theme of Unit 2 is the study of contemporary sociological and political issues from a historical perspective. The 2001-2002 academic year being the last for this project, we seek to produce holistic research that will aid the future of Islamic area studies. To this end Unit 2 will publish Democratization and Popular Movements (KISAICHI and KURITA, eds.) and Saint Veneration and Mysticism (AKAHORI, HORIKAWA, and TONAGA, eds.). Workshops will be held on these topics in preparations for the publications, and we will also publish works in English.
Issues of democratization and popular movements in Islamic areas are the focus of research of Unit 2. Through our four main international and joint workshops, ﾒThe Significance of Civil Societies and Democratization in the Contemporary Islamic Worldﾓ (1997), ﾒDemocratization and Social Movementsﾓ (1999), ﾒDemocratization and Popular Movements in the Islamic Worldﾓ (1999), and ﾒPeople and Popular Movements in Muslim Areasﾓ (2000), we have found that the notion of democratization is often exploited in the competition for political power, and that it is uncertain to what degree the opinion of the populace has been reflected in politics.
In the 2001-2002 academic year, we will build on this insight to conduct holistic research, with both historical and geographical axes in mind. We will study democratization and the populace in Islamic areas, focusing on the social role of Sufis and saints in the framework of popular movements. As part of this goal we will present a session entitled ﾒSufis and Saints Among the People in Muslim Societiesﾓ at the international symposium in October. With the participation of those researchers who will be contributing to this session, Unit 2 will host a separate workshop on the theme as well. At this workshop, young Japanese researchers will join us as part of our aim to support the future of research. In addition to these plans we will also invite scholars from abroad, dispatch Japanese researchers overseas and hold group-organized research. Below are the research plans of each group for this year:
Group 2-A Despite the presence of many political parties and parliamentary institutions, true ﾒdemocracyﾓ does not exist in many countries in Islamic areas. Besides economic development and institutional remodeling, social development is essential for the realization of true democracy. On this premise Group 2-A will look closely into social movements, civil societies, and democratization, factors closely related to social development in Islamic areas. As we seek to conduct an in-depth study of the above topics, we will return to basics, reviewing the principles of Islam and reading pertinent texts. Researching and holding seminars on ﾒReason and Religion,ﾓ as well as ﾒInterpreting Jawi Textsﾓ in particular will be part of this aim. In addition, five or six case-study seminars will be held for comparative studies of democratization in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Group 2-B will examine the following topics in relation to Islamic areas: transition to a market economy and economic development; introduction of Islamic banking systems and Islamic economy; designing regional unification; networks of commerce, distribution, and labor force; and development of natural resources, petroleum, and other environmental issues. We will hold five or six workshops, where we will discuss the influence of economic development on human rights and environmental issues in Islamic areas. We will invite an NGO researcher from Egypt for seminars and exchange of views.
Group 2-C will study the complex phenomena related to Sufism, saint veneration, and tariqa. These issues, in which one finds refinement of thought linked with popular faith, have both historical and contemporary aspects. They are inseparable from many political and economic movements, and the study of these issues covers many regions, time periods, and academic fields. There will be five or six workshops, in which we will examine the complex phenomena in relation to the life of the populace and public welfare, combining case studies and theoretical studies. We will present the research results in books or digital publications.
The research results of Unit 2 will be compiled into proceedings and papers. By the end of this academic year, the proceedings of the two workshops ﾒPeople and Popular Movements in Muslim Areasﾓ (2000) and ﾒZiyara: Ethno-Historical Study of Muslim Visitation to Religious Placesﾓ (1997) will be published, and we will continue work on the publication of the proceedings of workshops planned for this year. Group 2-C will compile glossaries of concepts and terminology related to Sufism, veneration of saints, and tariqa. The glossaries will be made available on our website.
Unit 2 International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- KISAICHI Masatoshi will prepare for international research seminars. August 10-30, 2001. France and Morocco.
- HORIKAWA Toru will conduct research on Sufism in Central Asia. August 10-30, 2001. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
- MIICHI Ken (JSPS Research Fellow, Kobe University) will conduct research on democratization in Indonesia. August 10-30, 2001. Indonesia.
- KOIKE Toshiyuki (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies) will conduct research on Sufi groups in Morocco. August 10-30, 2001. Morocco.
Scholars invited from abroad
- Asghar Ali ENGINEER (Institute of Islamic Studies and Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, India) will participate in Unit 2 workshops. November 15-30, 2001.
- HILALI Mohamed Yassir (University of Meknes, Morocco) will participate in Unit 2 workshops. November 15-30, 2001.
Unit 2 From the Group Leaders
(Group 2-A) Group 2-A will hold workshops in preparation for the publication of our research in the English and Japanese IAS Series. The unit will continue to investigate a variety of issues related to social development (social movements, civil societies, and democratization), since social development, besides economic development and institutional remodeling, is indispensable for the realization of democracy. We will re-examine basic theoretical concepts such as the role of the populace in democratization, the history of democratization, and the relationship between Islamic thought and democracy. We also seek to re-emphasize the importance of critical analysis of research texts.
(KISAICHI Masatoshi)
(Group 2-B) Group 2-B is led by SHIMIZU (Group Leader), NAGASAWA, and TORII. The following issues will be examined in relation to Islamic areas including Southeast Asia: globalization and economic development; the development of market economy; changes in industry and social hierarchy; introduction of Islamic banking systems to the economy; regional unification schemes; networks of commerce, distribution, labor force and capital; economic development and natural resource development (petroleum and natural gas); environmental problems; population issues; and issues associated with ODA and NGOs. Throughout the research, we will lay emphasis on the role of Islam in economic cooperation and unification as well as the responses of various Islamic movements in the face of economic crises. (SHIMIZU Manabu)
(Group 2-C) We will focus again on the complex phenomena associated with Sufism, saint veneration, and tariqa, and prepare for the publication of our results. The case-study workshops will be continued by young researchers, and we will hold a series of workshops in preparation for the upcoming publications and the international symposium in October. In addition, we will compile the workshop proceedings in English. (AKAHORI Masayuki)