The Islamic Welfare State: Muslim Charity, Human Security, and Government Legitimacy in Pakistan

— —

Christopher Candland (Wellesley College, Massachusetts)

The Islamic Welfare State

Muslim Charity, Human Security, and Government Legitimacy in Pakistan

Christopher Candland (Wellesley College, Massachusetts)

$163.95

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Cambridge University Press
30 September 2024

Islam; Welfare & benefit systems; Regional government

The Islamic Welfare State explains the relationship between government legitimacy, everyday security, and lived Islam in Pakistan—a major Muslim-majority country. Its humanitarian spirit makes Islam a compelling, community-strengthening faith that motivates people to provide essential services to the needy, to foster moral sentiments that build social solidarity, and to thereby challenge the legitimacy of government with its focus on 'protecting Islam' and 'national security' rather than enhancing the lives of ordinary people. The book surveys four kinds of Islamic charities—traditional, professional, partisan, and state. The focus is on ground realities, on the activities of welfare workers and beneficiaries, mostly patients and students from low-income families. The attention to the different political sentiments that different kinds of charity foster allows us to better understand politics and political change in Pakistan and across the Muslim world.

By: Christopher Candland (Wellesley College Massachusetts)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781009268431
ISBN 10: 1009268430
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 30 September 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

List of Illustrations; Translation and Transliteration; Glossary; Preface; Acknowledgements; Section I. Introduction; 1. Islam and the Social Welfare Ideal; Section II. Piety and Public Goods; 2. The Good of Government; 3. Social Welfare in a Muslim Society; Section III. Pakistan; 4. Muslim Identities and Parties; 5. Everyday Public Security and Insecurity; Section IV. Charities; 6. Methods of Discovery; 7. Traditional Islamic Charities; 8. Professional Islamic Charities; 9. Partisan Islamic Charities; 10. State Islamic Charities; Section V. Religion, State, and Public Goods; 11. Religious Provision of Public Goods; 12. Sentiments of the 'Islamic Welfare State; Bibliography; Index.

Christopher Candland is a Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College. He has been a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. To research The Islamic Welfare State, Candland travelled across Pakistan over sixty weeks, visiting more than one hundred Muslim charities.

Reviews for The Islamic Welfare State: Muslim Charity, Human Security, and Government Legitimacy in Pakistan

‘Candland takes us on a transformative journey, weaving together heartfelt stories, deep research, and political understanding.’ Noryn Ali, former Secretary, Baithak Schools Network ‘Candland’s goodwill and sincerity gave him access to charitable activities across Pakistan, allowing him to see humanitarianism in practice.’ Qibla Ayaz, Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology, Islamic Republic of Pakistan