Ink and Intellect Reading Club - Modernity and Islam - Capitalism

About this Club

This is a reading club that is meant to help us engage in the history of ideas that are pervasive in the modern world and are relevant for our understanding of reality and Islam. The facilitator Dr. Sinan will present on the topic after which participants will be drawn into group discussions based on the readings provided (to those who sign up). 

About this Session 

• Capitalism is among the most polarizing ideologies that seems to blanket the entire world. The poor economy, the rising prices, tax avoiding corporations and the huge inequality gap that exists globally is something we all know about. The impact of this system has made life much more harder for many who are dealing with several crises at the same time. Within this context, this seminar on capitalism seeks to answer certain questions regarding its interactions with modernity and Islam. Against this backdrop, this reading session is a continuation of various sessions done before where we engaged with topics such as liberalism, nation states and nationalism and secularism (You do not need to have attended the previous one to be here).
  
  • Explore where modern capitalism came from and how it developed from the 15th and 16th centuries
  • Compare capitalism with earlier forms of trade and profit-making to see what truly changed
  • Discuss how religious shifts in Europe influenced the rise of capitalist ideas
  • Look at how Muslim thinkers and communities have interacted with different economic systems

• The impact of capitalism on the sustainence of the family unit. 
• How Capitalism played a role in developing feminism and the current manosphere (including the rise of Dawah boys online)
• What is the impact of new technologies on this system
• How experts are predicting the end of capitalism 

As usual, the session will consist of pre-readings, a presentation, and group discussions.

Meet your Facilitator

This session will be led by Dr Mohammed Sinan Siyech, a Lectuer of International Relations at Wolverhampton University. He has previously taught at King’s College London (KCL), the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and the University of Edinburgh. He has written extensively focusing on political, religious, and security issues on various countries and societies. Beyond academia, he has contributed to global think tanks like the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) in London and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore and Equi, a think tank focused on British Muslims.

Light snacks to be provided.

Kindly note: No refunds will be given in case of cancellations.