Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Era of Imam Mahdi vis a vis the new global order as espoused by the West : An understanding and analysis vis a vis dialectics of the the West .

The Era of Imam Mahdi vis a vis the new global order as espoused by the West :
An understanding and analysis vis a vis dialectics of the the West .

A concept paper by Roque Yusuf Morales

  1. Introduction:

In The Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Most Compassionate.

As the collapse of the cold war, we have seen that a new world order has unfolded in the eyes
of the West, however, as this world ored unfolds, the West has been in a dilemma on how to
define the parameters of this order. Indeed, numerous theories and political analysis has
been proposed by the so called "enlightened scholars " of the West. But the Question now
arises: how does Islam and us, the global Ummah look at this world aroder and how do
we also define our parameters today? An How do we, believers and adherents
of Hazrat Baqiyatullah (May Allah hasten his return) prepare in this context?



We as members of the Global Muslim Ummah, may have to look at different angles as well as from different perspectives if we may arrive at a conclusion. This may not be conclusive for all times, it is our humble effort, so that we may be able to move forward in todays age and leave a legacy for other Muslims to come.


As one looks at the different theories expressed and espoused today, I cannot but help but remember the ideals left by those who have come before us, like Imam Khomeini (rahmatullahi alayhi) when he wrote the then president Mikhail Gorbachev and predicted the demise of theSoviet Union, saying; that the lac of a spiritual and moral ascendancy of socialism, being materialistic in nature will ultimately lead to the collapse of the socialist world order. And as one American Scholar has said, as the current trend of Modernization proceeds, the fundamental human value from the worship of God and the virtues of Tqwa, Imaan and Ihsan are replaced by values like vice, vanity, personal interests over the others, self over others, there appears a ever and more stronger need for us Muslims to propose the need also for the West to study the high, lofty and ethical values of Islam.

In the traditions of the late Ali Shariati's Ruhshanfekr being today's enlightened individuals , we will attempt to dissect the theories of the new global world order proposed by the West and their worldview and how we must propose to interact with the world in a move to propose also our own concept of a just and humane society baed on Tawheed and Adalah.

In a way, as we, the adherents of our beloved prophet Muhammad (SAWA) anxiously await his honored desecendant, how do we view the global events and act towards preparation of a state of Imam Mahdi's (ATFS) return to us.

II. How the West views todays Global order


After the demise of the Soviet Union as predicted by Imam Khomeini (rahmatullahi alyh), the West has seen that the eternal archenemy of Capitalism and Democracy, i.e. Socialism as represented by the Soviet Union has collapsed; corollary to this the collapse of the Iron Curtain in Germany, the concept of collectivism and state owned enterprises as espoused by communism has eventually became a thing of the past, and even the Sleeping Giant China, has awakened from its slumber to partake in the eventual Capitalization of the world.

As there appeared a clear and present need to define a new global order, a prominent think tank from the West, Samuel Huntington in a response to this need defined a new context, civilizational fault lines... in short, where cultures clash, civilizations and nations would clash. This was the eventual definition of this paper, "clash of civilizations and the rise of a new order".However, another known Western scholar Edward Said views that the presentation of Huntington preposterous in the sense paranoic.

This is the ineventual problem of the causality of Huntingtons concepts..... from a clash of civilizations, it is surmised that such a clash occurs whenever ignorance takes place. instead of understanding what causes cultures and civilizations to clash, why not also try to look at the parallel sum of things like universal human values that are treasured in every culture and civilization.The same can be said of looking the the paralellism of anarchistic and terrrorist groups lingering in the different cultures like the Branch dravidian, Aum Shinyo or the Baader Meinhof gangs that are much alike the terrroristic manifestations of al-Qaeda or other groups like the Tamil Tigers and the Sin Fein in Ireland.

And as Said says, “But we are all swimming in those waters, Westerners and Muslims and others alike.
And since the waters are part of the ocean of history, trying to plow or divide them with barriers is futile.
These are tense times, but it is better to think in terms of powerful and powerless communities, the
secular politics of reason and ignorance, and universal principles of justice and injustice, than to wander
off in search of vast abstractions that may give momentary satisfaction but little self-knowledge or informed analysis.
"The Clash of Civilizations" thesis is a gimmick like "The War of the Worlds," better for reinforcing defensive self-pride
than for critical understanding of the bewildering interdependence of our time. “


What is needed for civilizations to understand each other is dialogue, pluralist persepective and an openness to the other.

As the West aims also in defining order, it also aims to define states that in its opinion are threats to the stability of the new global order, unconsciously defining these states as "rogue states" at the root of this definition is "viciousness,lack of principle and propensity to engage in unilateral action (Herman, 2006). it is clear that within that context, it is apparent that those that apparently falls out of context of the Western definition of universal Human values appears to be part of the target of Western Imperialist Hegemony. it then appears that even states that are merely guarding their legitimate interests and protecting their citizens is seen as rogue and therefore in the eyes of the West are viewed as axis of evil.

As the West aims also in defining order, it also aims to define states that in its opinion are threats to the stability of the new global order, unconsciously defining these states as "rogue states" at the root of this definition is "viciousness,lack of principle and propensity to engage in unilateral action (Herman, 2006). it is clear that within that context, it is apparent that those that apparently falls out of context of the Western definition of universal Human values appears to be part of the target of Western Imperialist Hegemony. it then appears that even states that are merely guarding their legitimate interests and protecting their citizens is seen as rogue and therefore in the eyes of the West are viewed as axis of evil.


What pushes the West to aggressively pursue this Global World Order at the expense of other smaller sovereign states? The answer lies in the fact that Neoliberalism and Globalization also has played a significant role in the pursuance and aggressive implementation of this policy.

In the total sum of things, the world new order that the west (in the view that is pushed by the United states)
proposes is the Globalization of Markets, where nations are forced to co-opt their national sovereignty in
the face of tariffs and trade quotas always in the name of the Balance of Trade (BOT), however, this Balance
of Trade always shifts in favor of first world countries, Transnational Corporations (TNC) that operate their
businesses internationally and exploit the cheap labor cost , cheap mineral resources in the Third world at
a tremendous profit with no moral conscience of returning even a small portion of their accumulated wealth,
taking it abroad.


In short this is best manifested by decreasing of government subsidies and privatization of government and
owned and controlled corporations, free unrestricted trade by the lifting of tarriffs and barriers (giving rise to
the entry of Multinational and transnational corporations ), and the non-intervention of Government in many
policies to allow MNC and TNC's to operate as they wish. Neoliberalism also influences first world countries
to focus on absolute gains over other nation states. This puts minor states like for example the Philippines,
Sierra Leonne, Tunisia or even Egypt at a major trade disadvantage with Trade relations with the West. This
normally would put out Muslims states who are currently at Economic hardships at the mercy of the West. This
is coupled by Globalization which is the international economic manifestation of neoliberalism.


This in a nutshell, causes First world countries dominance over us Muslims, thereby using all available political,
diplomatic tools available to them to achieve their pursuit.


What then happens if this fails to materialize or they see a potential area to extend their influence? Perhaps
recent events in the Muslim world from Afghanistan, to Iraq, to Sudan are enough evidence to prove that good
intentions are clearly driven by the need to fuel their capitalist economies.


We have been always been reminding our brethren to hold to the rope of Allah and to unite to strengthen the Ummah
again in the face of adversity.


Now however, despite this behemoth order that the West Wishes to impose upon us, it itself is in the brink of decay
as it is largely dependent as in the words of Norman Angel another Neocon proponent, saying: "We cannot ensure
the stability of the present system by the political or military preponderance of our nation or alliance by imposing its
will on a rival.( Norman Angell, The Great Illusion, (1909) cited from 1933 ed. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons),p. 137.)
It only goes to say that in order for their global world order to survive, Global Bullying has become legitimized in the
guide of protecting a nations vested interest. Never the less, Muslim states also possess the right to protect their
collective interests as part of the Global Ummah as well as humanity.

At the head of this Global Order, is the United States, being today ruled by the NeoConservatives, this ideology has
its ramifications to both US domestic and Foreign policies.


III. What do we intend to do with this current context?



What appears here is a complex web of complex concepts intertwined with each other which we may call the Four microcosms of the west.The current Global World Order as seen by the west is best dissected by what we can say as the Four Microcosms of the West. these are the ideological tools that they use to look at the world and interact with it.

After seeing that a new world order has arisen, the west as a policy has adopted what we may call as a POST WAR HEGEMONY STRATEGY in dealing with the world. within this context they have underlined a four--set in which they deal with the world which is as follows:

  1. They define who are and can be their allies

  2. They identify potential threats and enemies and define them as rogue states

  3. they apply sanctions to countries which refuse to be bullied under their new world order

    1. creation of economic sanctions by:

      1. primary boycott of countries allied to the West of any economic transactions with the Country targetted

      2. secondary boycotts by threatening Multinational corporations/Transnational Companies from transacting business with so-called Rogue States.

    2. application of Political Sanctions by outmaneuvering international organizations like the United Nations Security Council

    3. pressuring states allied with the West to apply pressure or expelling diplomats from rogue states.

  4. they create scenarios of which they seek to manipulate the events to their own benefits

    1. Political scenarios wherein they aim to create political turmoil by fermenting dissension in rogue states

    2. International Diplomatic isolation by trying to either neutralize or pressure diplomats from the so-called rogue states for participating in international diplomatic and political actions by either exclusion/expulsion from membership or pressuring other states to actively support actions against these states.



By looking at this unipolar behemoth movement, we can ascertain that we can apply a new and novel approch of countering this unipolar hegemony. This we may now call a multi-polar approach.

As we all know that the New global world order as espoused in the West and articulated by the United states is that it is to globalized, consumer oriented and prone to machinations of the West who may attempt to influence smaller countries and economies through coercion and pressure .



We must understand that indeed in order to usher in a new global order of Peace, unity, development, social justice....INDEED IT IS INDEED HAZRAT MUNTAZAR must come, but how can we push over an era wherein the appearance of Imam Zaman (ATFS) would come to pass.




For such a circumstance to take place we as well must also take part in awakening the global Ummah as well as the non-Muslim world towards the accomplishment of these goals.

We as a natural result, will also apply a series of steps aimed to push for the following:

  1. Creation and strengthening of a new non-aligned movement which will advocate the interests of smaller states.this may also lead the way for the strengthening of pre-existing regional forums where focus will be aimed at strengthening of local regions and states as well as political and economic cooperation among them.

  2. Creation of "Centres of Dialogue and Understanding" that aims to popularize the dialogue of civilizations as a response to the Theory of "clash of civilizations".These centres of dialogues may be schools, academic organizations Non-government organizations shall be distributed regionally among strategic areas. they shall also be tasked to undertake researches and conferences in the aim of further propagating these concepts. special focus and emphasis shall be given to East-East and East-West Dialogue of civilizations.

  3. Creation of fora that aims to include other non-aligned states on a regional basis paving the way for the creation multipolar spheres of influences as well as alignments to ensure that smaller states be not coerced by the west into concessions and that these regional states interests be pursued and protected.

  4. Commissioning of regional researches involving an exhaustive study on Islamic pluralism and concepts of dialogue from a localized persepective that may equip Muslim scholars and laymen with the proper knowledge, tools and methodology of dialogue and proper interaction with other cultures.

  5. Open an International Research Organization for the study on how the Concept of Mahdiism can fully assist in the development of both the Global Muslim Ummah and the whole world in general.



No plan is perfect except with the Guidance of Allah, and insha Allah,. with proper guidance and leadership of the warasatul al-anbiya'a. We shall be successful in the implementation of these projects.



references:

  • Imam Khomeini's (Quddisah Sirruh) letter to President Gorbachev.

  • Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.org

  • Beyond American Hegemony . By Michael Lind, New America Foundation The National Interest | May/June 2007

  • The clash of Civilizations. by Samuel P. Huntington .Foreign Affairs Summer 1993

  • The Clash of Ignorance. By Edward Said.,The Nation, October 2001 issue

  • U.S. Policy on Rogue States :The concept "rogue state" is highly nuanced. The U.S. does not fall into the category despite its terrorist attacks against Cuba for close to 40 years.

    By NoamChomsky.,http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/articles/z9804-rogue.html../

  • Neocon 101. The Christian Science Monitor (source: http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/neocon101.html)

  • Beyond American Hegemony .By Michael Lind, New America Foundation .The National Interest | May/June 2007

  • AL-IMAM AL-MAHDI:THE JUST LEADER OF HUMANITY.By:Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini.Translated by.Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

  • Discussions Concerning al-Mahdi (May Allah hasten his return)by Ayatullah al-Uzma al-Hajj ash-Shaykh Lutfullah as-Safi al-Gulpaygani Translated by Sayyid Sulayman Ali Hasan First Edition 2000.Published by:Islamic Humanitarian Service/Fath al-Mubin Publications.153 Frederick Street, Suite101

  • The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam(A Historical Background) by Jassim M. Hussain Published by: The Muhammadi Trust of Great Britain & Northern Ireland In co-operation with The Zahra Trust, P.O Box 29926 San Antonio TX 78229 USA

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