Islamic Pillars, International Relations, and Global Politics

Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars are the core duties every Muslim follows to live a faithful and ethical life — they guide spiritual, moral, and communal behavior.

Shahada (Faith)

Declaration of faith in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as His Prophet.

Salat (Prayer)

Praying five times daily.

Zakat (Charity)

Giving wealth to the poor.

Sawm (Fasting)

Fasting during Ramadan.

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if able.

Clash of Civilizations (Samuel Huntington)

Theory (1996) that post-Cold War conflicts will be cultural — between major civilizations like Western, Islamic, Sinic, and Hindu — not ideological or economic.

IGOs (Intergovernmental Organizations)

Groups formed by sovereign states to cooperate on cross-border issues through treaties or charters.

Nation

A group with shared culture, history, or language.

Nationalism

The belief that this group should govern itself in its own state.

Realism

States act for power/security in an anarchic world.

Liberalism

Cooperation possible through democracy, trade, and institutions.

Constructivism

State actions shaped by ideas, identity, and norms.

The Enlightenment

17th-18th century movement emphasizing reason, science, and progress; critics say it ignored emotion, culture, and justified colonialism.

Customary International Law

Unwritten international law formed from consistent state behavior and belief that it's legally required (opinio juris).

Diplomatic immunity

Legal protection for diplomats from prosecution in the host country.

Ban on genocide

International prohibition against the act of genocide.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) lists 30 universal rights — civil, political, social, and economic.

Article 5 of UDHR

No torture.

Article 26 of UDHR

Right to education.

Hard power

Using force/coercion (military/economic).

Soft power

Influencing through culture, values, or diplomacy.

Example of hard power

Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Example of soft power

K-pop spreading South Korean culture.

Interaction of Politics and Faith

Religion shapes political values and legitimacy, while politics can influence religion.

Example of theocracy

Iran: Theocracy merging faith and governance.

Example of separation of church and state

U.S.: Separation of church and state but faith still influences policy.

Globalization

Connects cultures through trade, media, and migration — spreading ideas but also creating tension over identity.

Example of Western consumer culture

McDonald's, Netflix spreading worldwide.

Sovereignty

States' right to control internal affairs.

Challenges to sovereignty

Globalization, international law, and internal movements.

International law

Legal frameworks governing relations between states.

Humanitarian intervention

Intervention in a state for humanitarian purposes.

International Governmental Organizations (IGOs)

Entities that drive globalization by setting rules, managing crises, and promoting cooperation.

Economic integration

Linking economies through organizations like WTO and IMF.

Global governance

Coordination of international peace and health by organizations like UN and WHO.

Human Rights Council

A UN body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Prosecutes crimes such as those committed in Darfur.