Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
New edition of New Civilisation is out:

Contents Spring 2005: Issue 02

Why should Iran disarm?         

Weapons of Mass Destruction have shaped the post 9-11 debate with
respect to international peace and security. Following the invasion of
Iraq in 2003, weapons proliferation continues to occur in countries
such as North Korea. However it is Iranian policy and nuclear
intentions which is now the central focus of western foreign policy.
Sajjad Khan argues that the nuclear bargain explicit within the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation treaty has now broken down.

Ijithad: Applying Islam in the 21st century     

The subject of ijtihad occupies a recurring theme across much
contemporary Islamic literature. A tool employed by Islamic jurists, it
holds the key to Islam's continual relevance and to defining an
Islamic approach for solving problems in a post-modern world. Akmal
Asghar provides an overview of ijtihad and its role in presenting an
Islamic alternative.

Letter to the editor     

I note that the aim of New Civilisation is to present 'Islamic
political thinking, hitherto unrecognised in the western world'. Your
editorial also describes the magazine, or its contents, as a
'gauntlet', so as a 'Westerner' I am responding to that challenge.

Exporting Democracy     

With the absence of WMDs proved conclusively, the only remaining
justification for the continued presence of occupation forces in Iraq
is the prospect of democracy rising out of the ashes of Iraq’s
battered cities. Japan and Germany have been offered as examples of
what can happen when America gets it right. But scrutiny of post-war
events, and indeed of democratic societies in general, indicates that
the chances of success in Iraq are marginal at best.

Life: So Much to Lose    

Reflecting upon the deadly tsunamis that brought death to nations upon
all shores of an ocean Dr Abdullah Robin discusses the fragility of
life and asks if science can determine the origin of life with the same
confidence that it can pinpoint the origin of a tsunami.

Rethinking Intellectual Property          

Dr Abdullah Robin looks at innovation and economic growth in a
knowledge based economy and traces the development of the concept of
intellectual property from its capitalist origins as a monopoly right
through its transformation into an allegedly universal concept of
property in ideas. He examines the integrity of the concept and argues
that it is a brake rather than an engine for economic progress; a brake
that Islam dispenses with for the betterment of humanity.
Solving the problem of identity in the era of globalisation       

In the last edition of New Civilisation magazine Farooq Khan discussed
the new epoch that is emerging and touched upon how Islam will
redefine the globalisation debate. In this edition he explores how
Islam can practically solve one aspect of the globalisation debate: the
problem of identity.

The Ethical Dilemma Confronting Stem Cell Research       

Stem cell research promises to revolutionise medical treatment and has
the potential to yield cures that have long eluded scientists and
doctors. Whilst researchers seek to push the frontiers of its
ground-breaking potential, a debate over the ethics of experimenting
with human embryos may yet threaten to stifle its future. Dr Saqib
Latif discusses an Islamic approach to a debate that has deeply divided
secular societies.Stem cell research promises to revolutionise medical
treatment and has the potential to yield cures that have long eluded
scientists and doctors. Whilst researchers seek to push the frontiers
of its ground-breaking potential, a debate over the ethics of
experimenting with human embryos may yet threaten to stifle its future.
Dr Saqib Latif discusses an Islamic approach to a debate that has
deeply divided secular societies.

The Road From Tashkent to the Taliban    

Zeyno Baran, the Nixon Center's international security program
director, outlines a view that Islamic political parties working to
re-establish the Caliphate, represent a threat to US interests. Her
article is published below and is followed by a response from Dr
Abdullah Robin.

Women and Equality       

The current debate on women's rights has until now been predominantly
shaped by its progress in the west. Whilst attitudes towards women have
changed significantly in the west through the endeavours of feminists
and women's rights movements of different philosophical persuasions,
Akmal Asghar questions some of the assumptions - and their universality
- as well as the broader impact of their successes.
Dialogue with Orthodox Islam     

Orthodox Islam receives at worst a hysterical response and at best an
ambivalent one. It would be futile to argue that there are not
important points of difference between Orthodox Islam's views and those
who hold liberal secular values. However Dr Salman Ahmed argues that
moderate Islam is largely a myth and that if the West wants to
entertain a serious dialogue it should realise Orthodox Islam is the
only game in town.

http://www.newcivilisation.com/index.php/main/newciv/current_issue/spring_05
  

    <scribbled by farooq Fri 4 Feb 05 11:22>
  

    
On the subject of carrots:

Lawrence Korb, Assistant Defence Secretary under the Reagan
administration said, “If Kuwait grew carrots we wouldn’t give a damn”
.

http://www.bartleby.com/66/24/33024.html
  

    
(Farooq), I think your magazine is just great and admire you all for
your vision and determination. I sure hope you make it digital as soon
as you can, then I'll subscribe. Please throw some message boards, etc.
on the website when you get enough capital. Dubai would probably give
you all you need. You guys should have your headquarters at Internet
City anyhow.

I think the dialogues you will establish and the interconnectedness of
it all is of primary importance right now. I gotta tell you both, that
while I admire the depth of your thinking, I find the whole idea of a
Caliphate coming any time in the near future (our lifetimes) a real
stretch of the imagination. But, hey, imagination is where it all
starts.
  

    

> This maybe the case, but revolutions that generally are not bloody or
> violent tend to be more successful. The pre requisite to any
> 'successful' revolution is to win the war of ideas first. This is what
> happened in the ex communist states in the late 80's.

That is a key point.  It reminds me of the contrast between Britain and
France. In that case, the British "evolutionary revolution" avoided the
problems France went through.
  

    

> revolutions that generally are not bloody or
> violent tend to be more successful. 

This statement may have a very interesting applicability to what is going
on in Iraq today. I've believed for quite a while that various Shi'ite
groups have been very carefully, quietly and successfully moving into
decisive positions of power in Iraq.

The NY Times article goes into some of this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/06/international/middleeast/06shiites.html

  With religious Shiite parties poised to take power in the new
  constitutional assembly, leading Shiite clerics are pushing for Islam to
  be enshrined in the new constitution.

  Exactly how Islamic to make the document is the subject of debate.

  At the very least, the clerics say, the constitution should ensure that
  legal measures overseeing personal matters like marriage, divorce and
  family inheritance fall under Shariah, or Koranic law. For example,
  daughters would receive half the inheritances of sons under that law.

  On other issues, opinion varies, with the more conservative leaders
  insisting that Shariah be the foundation for all legislation.
  ...

  "They can afford to be patient if they can't push through everything now."
  ...
  "The religious people should have a role in writing the constitution,"
  he said. "Islamic law is so broad, and Shiite Islamic law has so many
  branches. There is an answer from Islam for everything in society."

It seems like the later point is exactly what Hizb ut Tahrir advocates.
So at first glance, I would expect Hizb Ut Tahrir to support and join
those in Iraq who are working in a non-violent way to enshine Islam in
Iraq and in fact create a Caliphate.

My question is: is my supposition true? And, if not, why not?