Socy426 Sociology in Religion
SOCY426 | Scholarly Review Essay | A Reading of ‘Containing the Umma?: Islam and the Territorial Question’ by Derrick Matthew | | Daniel Lochner | 3/6/2013 |
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In his article from the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, “Containing the Umma? Islam and Territorial Question”, author Matthew Derrick looks to identify and discuss the lack of appreciation of territoriality in influencing modern Muslim identities. He proposes to do so by using a range of examples, which cite the fundamentals of Muslim identities in relation to Islam, and in the process have shifted in accordance with changes in global political-territorial structure. The author clarifies that the purpose of the article is not to argue against globalization, culture, or history as being the main influences on shaping modern Islam, but he rather highlights the impact of cross-border forces associated with globalization and how they influence the functionality of the nation-state. The author points out that territorial control along with the formation of the nation-state also retain their appeal to sub-state Muslim groups that wish to regain control of their historical homelands. Finally he speaks of the challenge to go beyond the generalization that Islam is incompatible with the nation state, and rather focus on the ideologies that drive the modern political-territorial order, which plays a big part in conditioning Islam’s social and political expressiveness.
The author breaks up his supporting argument into different sub-headings and begins with this with ‘Territory and Identity’. He proceeds to talk about the nation-state, and how it has been a dominant form of social organization and identities around the world over the past two centuries. The authors usage of a quote from Penrose, further articulates its importance:
“The nation-state is the fundamental basis for defining group and individual identities” (Penrose 2002: 283).
The author continues the
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In his article from the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, “Containing the Umma? Islam and Territorial Question”, author Matthew Derrick looks to identify and discuss the lack of appreciation of territoriality in influencing modern Muslim identities. He proposes to do so by using a range of examples, which cite the fundamentals of Muslim identities in relation to Islam, and in the process have shifted in accordance with changes in global political-territorial structure. The author clarifies that the purpose of the article is not to argue against globalization, culture, or history as being the main influences on shaping modern Islam, but he rather highlights the impact of cross-border forces associated with globalization and how they influence the functionality of the nation-state. The author points out that territorial control along with the formation of the nation-state also retain their appeal to sub-state Muslim groups that wish to regain control of their historical homelands. Finally he speaks of the challenge to go beyond the generalization that Islam is incompatible with the nation state, and rather focus on the ideologies that drive the modern political-territorial order, which plays a big part in conditioning Islam’s social and political expressiveness.
The author breaks up his supporting argument into different sub-headings and begins with this with ‘Territory and Identity’. He proceeds to talk about the nation-state, and how it has been a dominant form of social organization and identities around the world over the past two centuries. The authors usage of a quote from Penrose, further articulates its importance:
“The nation-state is the fundamental basis for defining group and individual identities” (Penrose 2002: 283).
The author continues the
References: Elden, Stuart. 2010. “Land, Terrain, Territory.” Progress in Human Geography 34: 799–817. Claval, Paul. 1994. “From Michel to Braudel: Personality, Identity and Organization in France.” In Geography of National Identity, edited by David Hooson, 39–57. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Penrose, Jan. 2002. “Nations, States and Homelands: Territory and Territoriality in Na-tionalist Thought.” Nations and Nationalism 8: 277–297 Halliday, Fred. 1997. “The Formation of Yemeni Nationalism: Initial Reflections.” In Rethinking Nationalism in the Arab Middle East, edited by James Jankowski and Is-rael Gershoni, 26–41. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.