Full Description
The book is a Festschrift celebrating the 70th birthday of Ziauddin Sardar, a scholar and public intellectual known for his work on postnormal times theory and Islamic thought. The theme centers on Sardar's impact on various fields, emphasizing his contributions to understanding Islam in a globalized world, envisioning alternative futures, and critiquing dominant societal paradigms while advocating for diversity, justice, and hope in a world characterized by accelerating change and complexity.
Described as Britain's own polymath, Sardar is a leading voice in postnormal times theory, a framework for understanding our increasingly turbulent and unpredictable world. Contributors, including younger scholars mentored by Sardar, explore the breadth of his work across diverse fields such as:
Islamic thought: Examining his contributions to understanding the Quran, Muslim futures, and navigating the complexities of faith in a globalized world
Futures studies: Highlighting his critical approach to envisioning alternative futures and challenging dominant narratives of progress and development
Social and cultural critique: Analyzing his perspectives on postmodernism, technology, and the interplay of tradition and modernity
Examining Sardar's life and intellectual journey, emphasizing his commitment to truth, diversity, and social justice, this festschrift provides insights into his iconoclastic personality, sharp wit, and dedication to nurturing younger generations of thinkers. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for Sardar's contributions to navigating the complexities of our postnormal world and inspiring the creation of transnormal futures—futures that are more diverse, just, and hopeful. This book was originally published as a special issue of World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research.
Contents
Introduction: Ziauddin Sardar Festschrift 1. A Postnormal Election in Postnormal Times 2. Postnormal Despite Himself 3. A Conversation with Zia Sardar 4. The Ultimate Post-Islamist: Ziauddin Sardar's Cultural Surfing Through Our Epoch 5. Ziauddin Sardar's Approach to the Qur'an: Timely Lessons from Sura Al-Baqara 6. Cultural Relations in a New Century 7. Sardar, Islam, Normal, Post Normal, Identity, and I 8. Zia and Me 9. "Britain's Own Muslim Polymath:" On the Politics of Representing Ziauddin Sardar 10. Ziauddin Sardar: The New Muslim Man Seeking his Paradise 11. Reading Ziauddin Sardar on "Self" and "Other" in Post-Normal Times 12. Epiritu Opposisi 13. Hypernormal Films for Postnormal Times: The Documentary Dance of Adam Curtis 14. Qiyama as Rebellion, Taqiyya as Hypercamouflage: The Political Theology of Reza Negarestani Afterword
