Islam, Liberalism and Human Rights: Third Edition

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 248 pages
• Published by: I. B. Tauris
• Edition: 3rd Edition September 4, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1845113829
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1845113827
• Book Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 11.4 ounces

Product Review
'This is a valuable and original addition to a debate which is gathering pace among both Muslims and Western analysts of the region."--Roger Hardy, Royal Institute of International Affairs
 

Product Description
 This timely book, newly revised for this edition, addresses the question of human rights in the international context, focusing in particular on the interaction between human rights as a value and norm in international relations and Islam as a constituent of political culture in particular societies. Katerina Dalacoura’s argument proceeds at two levels. Firstly, it reaches a consistent normative position on the question of human rights. Secondly, the theoretical argument is reinforced through a detailed study both of the precepts of Islam and the role of Islam in the political process of 20th century Egypt and Tunisia. Dalacoura demonstrates that the interpretation of Islam in relation to human rights principles is not static, but is subject to reformulation.


Reader Reviews
This review is from: Islam, Liberalism and Human Rights: Implications for International Relations (Paperback) This book gives a cogent analysis of the relation between liberalism and Islam. On the one hand we have Liberalism, an ideology loosely based on Communism, that has origins in the equality movements, an ideology today that embraces everything no matter how awful, as long as that thing is a 'different culture'. Liberalsim today is no more then universal moral relativism, where a terrorist is a 'freedom fighter' and a child molester' is simply exploring his sexuality. Islam is a religion, whose central themes include genocide(Dar al Islam, Dar al Harb), the beating of women(sura 4:34) and sex with 9 year olds(Aeisha). Today Islam and Liberalism find themselves hand in hand. Liberalism has become a major defendoer of Islam, for although Liberalalism was originally based on secualr ideals like equality, today a liberal defends the viel, the Burka, the Abbaya, becuase today that is 'diversity' thus the beating of a women, 'honor killings' or the suppression of women are part of 'culture' and therefore neccesary. Thus a Muslim women in Saudi arabia according to liberalism doesnt deserve the same human rights as a western woman becuase the Muslim women has a 'different culture'. An Arab women who is a victim of an 'honor killing' becuase she had premarital sex isnt entitled to the same human rights defense as a western woman from Canada, becuase in the Arab womans 'culture' an 'honor killing' is 'cultural'. This book takes a deep and disturbing look at how liberalism has betrayed itself in defending radical, chauvinist Islam in places like Afghanistan(where Liberals found themsleves supporting laws that make it illegal to go to a movie theater and where adultery is punishable by death). A good analysis of how Human Rights are now based on culture, rather then universality, so that if in a certain culture people have 'different' 'values' for 'human rights' then liberalism will say "those people dont need human rights". Thus liberalism becomes a suppressor of human rights, rather then the upholder of those values that as Locke argued are universal. In essence Liberalism is racism today becuase it argues that certain religions and races, ethnicities and cultures deserve different rights, due to their 'culture'. Seth J. Frantzman