Taklif based model of Islamic Agency in International Relations: Saving Human Agency from Posthumanism
Abstract
This article provides an Islamic-based account of agency in International Relations, grounded in the Islamic concept of Taklif. It suggests that a more flexible approach to Taklif reveals three key components: Knowledge, Capabilities, and Resolve. Additionally, the article contextualizes this Islamic understanding of agency within the discipline of International Relations, showing that current agential theories increasingly anticipate posthumanist notions of agency. This shift tends to diminish human qualities and exceptionalism, which are emphasized by Islamic beliefs. The article traces the process of dehumanizing agency in International Relations theory, highlighting complexity and deconstruction as distinct trajectories that intersect to explain this posthumanist trend. Finally, the article proposes an Islamic account of agency based on Taklif as an alternative path.
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International RelationsTaklifHuman AgencyPosthumanism
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