Tavasoli, Atieh (2025) Alternative paradigms or ideological alignment? The duality of Islamic social science. Sociology of Islam, 11 (1). 59 - 79. ISSN 2213-140X
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This article delves into the paradoxical evolution of Islamic social science, where criticism of “Western” paradigms intersects with alignment with state authority, leading to the suppression of alternative perspectives within academia through the political intervention of the state to stabilize specific knowledge. The notion of the “Islamic University” in Iran reflects a broader suspicion of “Western” social sciences as cultural and political infiltration, aligning with the state’s project of establishing a “modern Islamic civilization” (Tamadon-e Novin-e Eslami). This demand for Islamic social science underscores the intertwined nature of academia, politics, and cultural identity in post-revolutionary Iran. The novelty of this article lies in its illustration of how this perspective on social sciences, entwined with political power, articulates specific notions about the ‘West’ and ‘Western’ social sciences. My focus is on the three significant projects championed by the state and its key representatives, aiming to critique “Western” social sciences and explore alternative paradigms. Firstly, the Heideggerian approach, spearheaded by Reza Davari Ardakani, the emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Tehran and former member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, critiques Western social sciences. Secondly, influenced by critics of modernity like Foucault and Eric Voegelin, the approach was represented by Hossein Kachu’iyan, a Sociology professor at the University of Tehran and a former member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, who seeks alternative perspectives instead of sociology. Lastly, drawing from traditional Islamic sources and thinkers, the third approach represented by Hamid Parsania aims to establish Islamic social science.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2025 The Author |
| Divisions: | Anthropology |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Feb 2025 11:51 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Feb 2025 11:51 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/127344 |
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