“West’s dominance stems from distorting non-Western realities”

Turkish, Jordanian scholars urge reclamation of historical agency

ISLAMABAD, FEB 26 (DNA): The deeply ingrained “West versus the Rest” mindset has long driven the West to frame history, politics, and culture in ways that justify its actions and reinforce its dominance, often at the cost of distorting non-Western realities. This selective historiography perpetuates a cycle of intellectual and political hegemony, where narratives are framed to serve Western interests. To break this cycle, it is crucial to deconstruct these narratives and reclaim historical agency for a balanced global discourse.

This was discussed by Prof Dr Bülent Şenay, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Bursa Uludağ University, Türkiye, and Dr Monjed Abu Bakr, assistant professor, Istanbul 29 Mayıs University, while speaking at a session on “Historiography and the Formulation of Collective Identity,” held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

In his talk, Prof Bülent Şenay highlighted the global shift from geopolitics to theopolitics, which is rooted in Christian governance to establish divine sovereignty. In contrast, he noted that Islam does not serve a theopolitical vision as its governance structures, such as khilafa, strive to establish a human-centered system rather than a divine one. He stressed that Muslims must uphold this vision and not misinterpret it through the theopolitical lens; otherwise, they risk becoming vulnerable to Western exploitation.

He further underscored how Western historiography, shaped by Hegelian and Orientalist thought, presents a linear, Eurocentric view of civilization. This stands against the Qur’anic vision of universal and thematic history, centered on falah (success) and transformation and not constrained by national or tribal narratives. This divergence underscores the need for Muslims to engage critically with history, recognizing that identity is constructed through memory and historical consciousness.

In this regard, Prof Şenay called for intellectual and cultural self-determination of Muslim societies. He said that rather than responding with blind opposition to Western epistemological frameworks, a strategic and informed engagement is needed to ensure a future rooted in authentic Muslim intellectual and political agency.

This requires a multi-layered approach, beginning with a critical reassessment of Hegelian Eurocentrism and the dominant Western narrative, he stressed. This means not only critiquing but also actively decentering Eurocentric analyses that distort non-Western realities. A key part of this process, as he noted, is reclaiming Islamic identity in a way that resists modernity’s push for homogenization.

Prof Şenay further emphasized the importance of dismantling orientalist perspectives, which have long misrepresented Islam and shaped global discourse accordingly. Moreover, discussions on identity must intersect with broader issues such as gender, social justice, and political autonomy. This holistic, decolonized approach ensures that the discourse remains dynamic, inclusive, and grounded in historical consciousness.

Building on this discussion, Dr Monjed Abu Bakr emphasized that civilizations are inherently interconnected, and Islam offers a model of peaceful civilizational coexistence that values ethical pluralism without erasing distinct identities, provided its teachings are properly understood and followed. He referenced prophetic traditions and highlighted Qur’anic principles of coexistence and historical examples of religious and geopolitical commonalities among different faiths.

This perspective challenges the Western narrative that often frames civilizations as being in inevitable conflict. However, he acknowledged that despite efforts to foster coexistence, tensions and clashes will persist, particularly in geopolitical struggles like that of Palestine and Al-Aqsa. The challenge, he stressed, is not to eliminate all conflict but to engage with it constructively, ensuring that intellectual agency replaces reactionary responses.