Support us

HISTORY OF ISLAMIC POLITICAL THOUGHT

This course has finished

Delivered by: Professor Antony Black [University of Dundee] Author of “The History of Islamic Political Thought from the Prophet to the Present”.

Much has been made about “Political Islam” in academia, media and society but very little has been studied and written about “Islamic Political Thought” from time of the Prophet (saw) to the present day.

Based on Professor Antony Blacks’ book, this course will provide an overview of the various schools of Islamic political thought, their origins, inter-connections and meaning. We will briefly look at the various dynasties, the major thinkers and philosophers, drawing upon a wide range of sources including writings on religion, law, philosophers and statecraft expressed in treatises, handbooks and political rhetoric.

The course will cover the following:

  • Caliphate, Immamate & Sultanate – Theory & practice: From Ummayad, Abbasid, Mamluk, Ottoman, Safavids & Mughuls
  • Islamic Political Thought and Philosophy
  • The Ethics of Power – Nasihat al-muluk
  • Theoretical works of al-Mawardi, Ibn Rushd, Al-Ghazali Nasir al-Din Tusi, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Khaldun and others
  • Islamism, Modernism and the Secular State
  • Arab Spring & current Islamic political thoughts

Professor Antony Black [University of Dundee]

Professor Antony Black is Emeritus Professor in the History of Political Thought at the University of Dundee, where has taught since 1963 until his retirement in 2000, covering most aspects of political theory from Plato to contemporary international relations and social philosophy. His has researched and published on wide range of topics from medieval ecclesiastical theories to contemporary political philosophy.

Some of articles include: ‘Classical Islam and Medieval Europe: a Comparison of Political Philosophies and Cultures’, Political Studies, 41 (1993), 58-69 ‘Christianity and Republicanism from St. Cyprian to Rousseau’, American Political Science Review, 91 (1997), 647-56 ‘Communal Democracy and its History’, Political Studies, 45 (1997), 5-20 ‘St Thomas Aquinas: the State and Morality’ in Political Thought from Plato to NATO , ed. by Brian Redhead (London: Ariel/BBC, 1984), pp. 61-72.

Some of his books include:

The West and Islam: Religion and Political Thought in World History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008). Church, State and Community: Historical and Comparative Perspective (Ashgate Variorum, 2003). Political Thought in Europe, 1250-1450 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992)

His most celebrated work is a complete history of Islamic political thought titled “The History of Islamic Political Thought from the Prophet to the Present, 2nd edn (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011)”.

To watch, please click on the video, register with vimeo and and follow the instructions set out by vimeo for payment [it costs $40/£25 to watch and you have a month to view it]

Click image to enlarge