Description
This paper explores the connections or lack of between International Political Theology, as a growing field within International Relations, and the Islamicate. By Islamicate I refer not only to theological concepts within Islam, but their practice and application by Muslims - not territorially-defined as a Muslim world, but even as minority communities outwith. While there is considerable overlap and intersection with political theology from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions, among others, I explore in this paper the relative lack of engagement with Islamic concepts in International Political Theology beyond brief (often negative) comparisons with predominantly western views of political violence in Islamic theory and practice. I reflect on the possible historical, conceptual, and political reasons for this, and how or why this apparent breach even needs to be bridged.
