"After delving into the problems of the present monetary system, it then argues how a return to a gold payment system - like the Islamic dinar - could solve many of the woes of today's economic system. A return to such a system is not only desirable from the economic, political, social and religious perspectives, but also urgent in the present era of globalisation and impending world recession, besides providing a conducive environment for Islamic economics, banking and finance to flourish." "Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera is the Head of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia."--BOOK JACKET.

'It was a humbling experience to read the product of such a remarkable feat of scholarship. It is all at once an exploration in analytic history and a complete text of Islamic finance theory and application. It is also one of the most succinct renditions of the evolution of Islamic finance embedded in a comprehensive account of the particularities of economies as diverse as Malaysia and Turkey. This is a unique contribution to Islamic finance and Islamic economic history. It has been a rewarding learning experience. It is truly a breathtaking effort.' – Abbas Mirakhor, former IMF Executive Director and the recipient of the Islamic Development Bank Prize in Islamic Economics (2003) This illuminating and thought-provoking book questions whether classical Islamic capitalism, which has served Muslims so well for centuries, can provide a viable alternative world economic system. In the current recession – the worst since 1929 – this is surely a provocative question. But if Islamic capitalism is to emerge as a viable alternative, its nature and systems must be well understood. Murat Çizakça explores key issues within Islamic capitalism and finance, shedding light on whether the Islamic system can indeed be called 'capitalist', the principles on which the system was built, the institutions that were consequently developed, how they function and have evolved, and, perhaps, most importantly, whether they can be modernized to meet today's needs. Against the backdrop of rapid change in the Middle East, this book gives a solid background to the economic systems that will emerge in the world of Islam. An essential guide to the past, present and future of Islamic economy and finance, this compelling book will prove to be of particular interest to academics and researchers of economics, finance, economic and financial history and political science.

Islamic banking has seen rapid growth during the last two decades. This is a result of the liberalization of financial regulation, the globalization of financial markets, technological changes, product innovation, the birth of several new Islamic States, and a growing Islamic presence in the West, among other factors. New innovations have allowed economists and religious scholars to bring new products to almost all areas of banking and insurance, products which would previously have been extremely controversial. This book provides a better understanding of the Muslim community around the world of Islamic economics and its importance, especially in these days of financial crisis. The book will also serve as a reference manual for teaching the theory and practice of Islamic banking and Islamic financial innovations around the world. Islamic finance courses at universities are highly important since Islamic financial innovations remain very limited, and additional efforts have to be made in this area.

"Indonesia is one of the few countries that came through the global economic crisis in 2008-09 with positive economic growth. Despite some recorded positive domestic economic performances, Indonesia faces new challenges as its economy keeps growing and the global economy remains uncertain. A new economic development paradigm is needed to overcome old problems (poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among regions) with global market opportunities. This book provides a new perspective on how Indonesian’s economic policies should be developed by considering its past and future challenges." - Firmanzah, Professor of Economics and Dean of Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia "Aris Ananta, Muljana Soekarni and Sjamsul Arifin gather excellent researchers and practitioners to discuss important economic policy issues for Indonesia today. They discuss monetary and fiscal policies and real economic sector issues based not only on theoretical analysis but also on their day-to-day experience in economic management. By reviewing Indonesia's economic policy reform and subsequent Asian financial crisis and sub-prime loan crisis, the authors present a new economic development paradigm and explore economic strategy and policies for the new era. The book offers many timely lessons from history, as well as the real policy experiences of the authors, and guides readers in exploring economic policies under the globalized world economy. This book is very useful for both practitioners and researchers." - Masaaki Komatsu, Professor of Economics, Hiroshima University

In any field—whether scientific, business, or social—ethics plays a critical role in determining what is acceptable in a particular community and what is considered taboo. The source of these preconditions is often a complex interweaving of tradition and rational thought. Socio-Cybernetic Study of God and the World-System investigates morality in a socio-scientific worldview, examining the epistemology of existence in conjunction with Islamic monotheistic law to generate a world-system that governs action and reaction in the context of a variety of cognitive and social environments. Readers with backgrounds in finance and economics can utilize this book to construct a more thorough theoretical understanding of their societal and professional associations.

Can the contemporary Islamic finance movement be shown to meet the requirements of modern commerce? In the wake of the terrorist attacks on America the UN Security Council passed a resolution targeting transnational sources of terrorist funds. The United States and the International Monetary Fund are encouraging the governments of the Middle East to adopt policies of economic liberalism and a new type of capitalism, based on Islamic values and beliefs, is emerging.The aims of the book are:* to explore the political implications of the slow but steady accumulation of Islamic capital* to analyse the connections between Islamic finance and Islamic political movements in Middle Eastern and North African countries* to show that the commonly-perceived connection between Islamic finance and money laundering and terrorism is by no means the complete picture. Readers will learn to appreciate the various political contexts in which Islamic finance operates in the Middle East and North Africa and will acquire some understanding of its political as well as economic constraints. Hopefully possible misunderstandings about Islamic banking and finance will be corrected.The book is divided into two parts - part one is thematic and lays the ground for the country-specific case studies in part two (covering the Sudan, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt). The contributors include political scientists, economists and historians.Key Features:* A major topical issue* Written by the world's leading experts on Islamic Political Economy* Explores the connections between Islamic finance and Islamic political movements* Includes country-specific case studies