Muslims, similar to other people, cannot escape the process of modernization and the growing integration and interconnectedness of people and societies around the world. This process can influence people in one of two ways; either, as argued by Fukuyama leading to “… an increasing homogenization of all human societies, regardless of their historical origins or cultural inheritances” (Fukuyama, 1992, p. xiv), or people may become even more aware of their differences as seen in the revival of traditional values and/or a rediscovery of indigenous cultures and religion.

The last decade has witnessed a mushrooming of Islamic movements that view themselves as counterforces to cultural domination by the West. While the goal of these groups is to assert their religious identity in the face of what they regard as imperializing ideas like modernization and secularism, many have also turned to radicalism, especially in circumstances where moderate ways of responding are perceived to be ineffective in producing results.

Many Muslim societies are presently caught at such a crossroad between the traditional and the modern, where the old institutions and values are increasingly being brought in contact with modern forces. But, how they have dealt or are dealing with this situation depends on many factors.

This special issue of Intellectual Discourse aims to publish papers that will examine how Muslims and Muslim countries cope with changes brought about by modernity to be in line with traditions. The following are some subthemes that can be used as guides:

·         Tradition and modernity from the Islamic perspective
·         Islam and secularization
·         Islamizing modernity or modernizing Islam?
·         Responses of Islamic movements to modernity
·         Effects of modernity on people’s well-being
·         Persistence of tradition in the face of modernity
·         Modernity and the crisis of identity
·         State and religion in the age of modernity

The guest editor for this special issue is Professor Abdul Rashid Moten. Manuscript submission should be made via email to him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For guidelines to author instructions, please see http://iiu.edu.my/intdiscourse/index.php/islam/about/submissions.

Deadline for submission: 31st December 2010 - Expected Publication June, 2011