Islam Архиве - Časopis Kultura

ISLAM IN BEOGRAD

8. October 2018./in Challenges of the Religious /by Kcs21blAA

IDEA AND LIMITS OF THE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN ISLAM

5. October 2018./in Religious Tolerance /by Kcs21blAA

THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTORAL POLITICAL CULTURE OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING A MINIMUM LEVEL OF DEMOCRACY

25. August 2018./in New Key to Sociology /by Kcs21blAA

In this paper, we will apply the theoretical framework of the minimal definition of democracy (electoral democracy) to the example of the Republic of Tunisia after the changes that have occurred after The Arab Spring. We wish to illustrate the hypothesis that democratic political culture, which has a permanent character, can play an important role in maintaining the nucleus of democracy – the electoral process. Also, we will try to show that specific (liberal and tolerant) cultural – historical heritage and political practice in Tunisia are important factors for the formation and maintenance of democracy in that country (at the minimum level). Our goal is to try to give a general evaluation of whether Tunisia, a few years after The Arab Spring, can rate as electoral democracy. Indirectly, we will discuss how Islam can be barrier to the democratization of society.

(RE)CONSTRUCTING GENDER (NEO)ORIENTAL DEVIANCE

15. August 2018./in Culture and Deviance /by Kcs21blAA

This paper proceeds from an assumption emphasized by the creator of the concept of Orientalism, Edward Said. His standpoint is that the gender aspect of Occidental attitude towards the Orient is very important for the understanding of the whole complex process of reducing and simplifying the perception of Oriental societies. A specific view of the oriental woman which was formed in the 18th and 19th centuries can also be identified in contemporary Western societies. Although the symbols and the iconography are different, the logic of contradicting women’s oriental otherness remains the same. The Muslim women are perceived as submissive, vulnerable and obedient. Western discourses are marked by the need to “rescue” these endangered women. The methods of “salvation” are different and they range from sexist to feminist. The feminist form of Western “salvation” is theoretically more interesting and has been critically responded to by many (Western) authors who disagree with the imperative of adopting Western feminism as the only way to achieve gender equality. In order to clarify the arguments that are in favour of both streams of thought, we have presented various views within the framework of Islamic feminism itself. Without a desire to give the final conclusion, in the end we looked at the possibilities of eclecticism in these theoretical feminist schools of thought that would contribute to the better position of all Muslims in the contemporary context, and especially to the Muslim women. The main goal is to deconstruct images of Muslims as a deviant subculture based on the fact that their customs and beliefs are different.

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