States Do Not Go to Heaven: Towards a Theory of Islamic Agency in International Relations

This book compares and contrasts Islamic worldviews and Western theoretical perspectives on international relations to suggest that a combination of the two could lead to a mutually beneficial redefinition of contemporary international relations utilizing Western theoretical tools and incorporating an Islamic perspective. Particular focus is given to the Islamic concept of istikhlaf as an ontological and normative foundation, the reasoning being that all man-made social arrangements on earth , as well as international society, should be considered a realm of istikhlaf. This allows for return to an eternal and critical first principle, linking all social roles to this principle, which is that man, as designated by the Quran, is God's khalifah or vicegerent on earth. It is a statement of great magnitude.