Islamic education in Russia: Local experience and the influence of the Middle East

Abstract

The collapse of the Soviet system in the North Caucasus was accompanied by re-Islamization, which, among other things, was facilitated by growing influence of the religious and governmental actors from the Middle East. The upsurge of Islam manifested the increased demand for religious education. Some Muslims in Russia, mostly middle-age ones, and the elders, stood for restoration of pre-Soviet Islamic traditions. Others, the youth, oriented to the Middle East. In Russia non-secular schools and universities are still poorly regulated by the state, and therefore Islamic educational centers remain in the "grey zone". On the other hand, being excluded from the state-based system of public school and higher education, unregulated Islamic education in the North Caucasus may shape a seething environment for socio-political destabilization. The authors conclude that two dimensions can be distinguished in the context of the problems and challenges of the Islamic education system in Russia. The first, short-term one, is associated with the modernization of the teaching format itself. It implies introduction of general humanitarian subjects and disciplines in educational programs. As for the long-term prospects, in this case it would be possible to refer to the experience of the world's leading religious educational centers. Modern Russian Islamic educational centers may borrow its organizational model and branding strategy without hiring foreign lecturers. Eventually, the system should become a self-reproductive one under which graduates would make up a stratum of teachers, scholars and other professionals including those whose activity is not related to Islam directly.