About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

4 Amsterdam L.F. 36 (2012)
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Regional Challenges to International Law and Security

handle is hein.journals/amslawf4 and id is 186 raw text is: amsterdamlawforu m VUJ Ut-he!rsity Arc,, terdiarm- Article The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Regional Challenges to International Law and Security Azin Tadjdini* Abstract The return of religion as a major player in legal context over the last three decades of the 20'h century found expression not only in some domestic legal systems but also as a force behind public international law. This article explores the latter phenomenon by outlining the parallel existence and development of general international law on and of regional international law based on politicised Islam by specifically looking at some of the instruments of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. What challenges are represented by international law based on Islamic ideology and how does this form of international law fit within the broader landscape of international law? Introduction That the last half of the 20t century would see a resurgence of religion and religious discourse in society, politics and consequently also in law was not an unexpected turn in history given the Cold War strategy of putting into action an effective countermeasure against communism. What might have been less expected, however, was that this development would continue on a large scale even after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a phenomenon, the return of religion has been present in a number of countries across the globe, regardless of the particular religious garb. 1 What these movements often have in common is a rejection of both the erosion of traditional certainties and the changes resulting from modernity. Even so, the new role of religion is not a theological phenomenon but instead part of a broader political agenda. The incorporation of religion into politics and law is not done out of love for religion, but as a legitimising ground to conduct certain politics. One could, as some do, argue that politicised religion is not true religion and what we see happening in the name of religion is nothing more than religious discourse being used to disguise policy choices that in fact contradict 'true' religion.' This opens up to the bigger question as to who has the authority to decide what * Azin Tadjdini holds LL.Msfiom the Uniersiti (fOslo (2009) and Georgetoin Uniersiti (2011). He is a research felo at the Department of Public and International Laii, Universit of Oslo. ' For a comprehensive discussion on the resurgence of religion in law, please see R. Hirschl, Constitutional Theocracy, Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press 2010; G. Kepel, The Revenge of God: The Resurgence of Islam, Christianiti and Judaism in the Modern World, Cambridge: Polity 1994. Also, J.Casanova, Public Religions in the Modern World, Chicago: Chicago University Press 1994. 2 This is argued by amongst others A.A. An-Na'im, Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Sharia, Cambridge MA, and London: Harvard University Press 2008.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most