The Influence Of Human Mobility In Muslim Societies

First Published in 2003. This volume explores various aspects of human mobility-both spatial and social-in Muslim societies from the earliest Islamic period to the present times. In general, a high mobility among Muslims has been observed throughout their history, to say nothing of the fact that the pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five religious duties, or that many Muslim travelers such as Ibn Battuta moved over vast areas. However, the social and political impact of their movement, voluntary or forced, has rarely been analyzed in terms of a multi-disciplinary approach. Researchers specializing in history, anthropology, sociology, psychology and politics from eight countries have contributed their insights on both Muslim and non-Muslim mobility in this multi-faceted volume, which will shed new light on the meaning of mobility and the movement of human beings in the even more globalized world of today.