Globalization and Religious Democracy; How to Transition from the Identity Challenges of Islamic Societies

Document Type : Original Article

Author

assistant professor- imam khomeini and islamic revolution research institute

Abstract

The dramatic developments of recent decades and the ever-increasing technological revolution, have made the world more than ever a network of transnational interactions with a dynamic and interactive nature, the waves of which have permeated all aspects of human individual and social life. A trait that moves with unbelievable power towards homogenization, assimilation, and integration, and reproduces a global and Western culture. On the other hand, Islamic societies have experienced various crises such as identity crisis, legitimacy crisis, class conflict and cultural crisis due to direct and passive contact with the powerful waves of globalization. However, not all of these ideologies have succeeded in providing an effective and acceptable response and consensus to the consequences of the post-globalization crises; Religious democracy as a model of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, despite its short life, due to its connection to the long-standing tradition of religious rationalism, can be an effective alternative to overcome these crises, of course, also enjoys flexibility, repairability and localization to other aspects of Islamic societies.

The findings of this study indicate that in contrast to this kind of homogenizing and integrative arrangements of globalization, the model of religious democracy as a religious model and in accordance with the normative system of Islamic societies, a model with high capacities to protect indigenous and Islamic values of these societies.

Keywords