Islam and Islamic Law in Contemporary International Relations

Abstract

In this chapter, the author focuses on the particular role of Islam in modern international relations. He identifies the issues and policies that are either prompted by Islam or wherein Islam is a dominant factor. Two approaches can be adopted when discussing the role of Islam in modern international relations. On the one hand, Islamic classical legal doctrine provides for rules relating to international relations and international law. The other approach, which is taken in this contribution, is to see what role Islam plays in the international relations of Muslim States. Of all aspects and topics in foreign policies pursued by Muslim States, Islam plays a concrete and substantive-i.e. activist-role in four fields: human rights, economics, war and peace, and the protection of Islam. Keywords:contemporary international relations; economics; human rights; Islamic discourse; Islamic law; Muslim; peace; war