Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T11:48:46.834Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2019

James Piscatori
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Amin Saikal
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Get access

Summary

Chapter 1 introduces the focus of this book, which is to elucidate the degree to which the affective symbol of the umma shapes Muslim identities today and inspires social and political action. It notes that the discussion to follow will explore the ‘pull’ of the umma on Muslims. The volume will explore the ways in which the latent sense of attachment to a great enterprise of the faith is omnipresent, but, like other affiliations, seems more pronounced when facing opposition. A kind of societal pan-Islam — grassroots empathy with Muslims worldwide — has undergirded identification with the Palestinians or Rohingyas, for example. Even when this popular sentiment is expressed, however, Muslim states may find economic and political interests more important than support for Muslim victims. It is proposed that the identity that the umma provides must thus be contextualised and seen as open to widely divergent interpretations and self-interested political concerns. The chapter also explains that the book will investigate the effects of the ‘push’ of the umma on Muslims. It will demonstrates that states, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, seek to foster a sense of the umma and its importance through various means. So, too, collective non-state actors, such as ISIS, which attempt to harness the symbolic power of the umma in order to pressure individuals and groups into taking action. Chapter 1 concludes by outlining the structure of the book and observes that manipulation of the idea of the umma forms part of the pursuit of authentication and influence in today’s Muslim world.

Type
Chapter
Information
Islam beyond Borders
The Umma in World Politics
, pp. 1 - 15
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • Introduction
  • James Piscatori, Australian National University, Canberra, Amin Saikal, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Islam beyond Borders
  • Online publication: 06 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108666589.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Introduction
  • James Piscatori, Australian National University, Canberra, Amin Saikal, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Islam beyond Borders
  • Online publication: 06 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108666589.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • James Piscatori, Australian National University, Canberra, Amin Saikal, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Islam beyond Borders
  • Online publication: 06 September 2019
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108666589.002
Available formats
×