Public Lectures by Researcher Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır at Ilia State University
Events
On May 6 and 7, Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır will deliver a series of public lectures. She is both a visiting researcher at the ongoing seminar of the G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies at Ilia State University and an assistant professor at Marmara University. These lectures are intended for students, researchers, and anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of contemporary debates on modernity and democracy in the Islamic world.
Islam and Modernity
The speaker will explore the ongoing debates surrounding modernity in Islamic thought, particularly emphasizing the legacy of the Islamic modernist movement and its key figures, including Muhammad Abduh and Fazlur Rahman. The audience will reflect on the dynamic interplay between tradition and reform in shaping contemporary Muslim societies, with the theoretical discussion grounded in the concept of multiple modernities.
Working Language: English
Date and Time: May 6, 17:00–18:30
Location: Ilia State University, Building S, Meeting Hall 201/202, 3 G. Tsereteli Street
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Towards a Political Theory of Muslim Democracy
The speaker will examine the development of theories about a Muslim-based democratic system—a form of democracy that acknowledges the central role of religion in Muslim societies. The lecture will cover the following topics: multiculturalism, secularism, constitutionalism, and the organization of the public sphere, presenting the idea of Muslim democracy as a subject of political theory rather than theology.
Working Language: English
Date and Time: May 7, 12:00–13:30
Location: Ilia State University, Building S, Meeting Hall 201/202, 3 G. Tsereteli Street
Everyone is welcome to attend.
About the Speaker
Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır is an assistant professor at the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Marmara University. She earned her Ph.D. from the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University in 2018. Altuntaş-Çakır is the author of “A Political Theory of Muslim Democracy,” published by Edinburgh University Press in 2022. The book was translated into Arabic and published by Qatar University Press in 2024.
2025