AAA member, Daromir Rudnyckyj, responds to John Cassidy’s article “Prophet Motive“. The article, featured in The New Yorker on February 28 of this year, asked if Islam was to blame for the lagging economies of the Arab countries:
John Cassidy, documenting the debate over the relationship between Islam and capitalism, labels those who see a contradiction between the two as new Weberians (“Prophet Motive,” February 28th). Max Weber argues that the spirit of capitalism is the outcome of Protestant ethics: hard work, self-discipline, confidence in one’s own salvation, and worldly action guided by rationality.
Read Dr. Rudnyckyj’s entire letter in today’s issue of The New Yorker. His letter is reflective of his new book Spiritual Economies:
The letter is a heavily condensed summary of my book, Spiritual Economies. The book intervenes into the long scholarly debate over the compatibility of Islam and capitalism, which was most recently revived in Timur Kuran’s new book The Long Divergence. Spiritual Economies provides a striking ethnographic counterpoint to Professor Kuran’s economism. Whereas he argues that Islam inhibited capitalist development historically, Spiritual Economies shows how Muslims today in Southeast Asia and beyond are seeking to reinterpret Islamic doctrine, history, and tradition to make their religion compatible with capitalism.
Click here for further details about Rudnyckyj’s latest book.
Filed under: Anthro in the Media, Commentary, Publications | Tagged: capitalism, Daromir Rudnyckyj, economic stagnation, economy, islam, John Cassidy, Kuran, Max Weber, Muslim, Prophet Motive, Protestants, Spiritual Economies, The Long Divergence, The New Yorker, Timur Kuran | Comments Off
Earth Day Roundup
On this Earth Day, we’re celebrating anthropologists! Many anthropologists have been newsmakers lately, so here is a media round up to add to your weekend read:
An article of interest to be featured this Sunday, April 24th in the New York Times Magazine, Obama’s Young Mother Abroad.
And, no Earth Day would be complete without a few ideas of how you could celebrate the earth’s special day. With the assistance of the Anthropology and Environment Section, here are a few things you can do to celebrate Earth Day!
Filed under: Anthro in the Media, Commentary | Tagged: anthropologists, Anthropology and Environment Section, Arkansas Tech University, Bullfrog films, CSSS de La Montagne, Daromir Rudnyckyj, Deirdre Meintel, Earth Day, EPA, Guggenheim Fellowship, Huffington Post, Jennifer Roberston, Joshua Lockyer, Josiane Le Gall, Laura Montgomery, Linfield College, locally grown foods, Montreal Gazette, New York Times Magazine, Rachel Newcomb, Rollins College, Stanley Ann Dunham, Thomas Love, Universite de Montreal, University of Michigan, University of Victoria, Vancouver Sun, Westmont College, Wheaton College, Wheaton Patch | 1 Comment »