Diss. Helsingfors : University.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Social Anthropology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-173). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29267

Thesis--Agra University. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 361-368).

Thesis (doctoral)--Stockholm University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 298-324).

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, History Department, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-244).

The thesis examines the historical emergence of modes of perception, interpretation and evaluation within Western European nations of what has been termed Arab Islamic culture. It is argued that the West perceives Arab Islamic East as "Other" or "Them", but that the content of this "Otherness" shifts over time according to a range of historical, political, cultural and economic factors. The two central themes that emerge within these modes of interpretation are termed "Romanticism" and "Negativity/Hostility". The manifestation of these two themes is traced from antiquity to the modern age. The thesis demonstrates the continuities, shifts and transformations of these two themes throughout the history of European engagements with the Arab Islamic East. In addition to a comprehensive survey of Western literary and cultural interpretations of the Arab Islamic East, the study provides a content analysis of the presentation of Arab Islamic acts and events on the world stage in six modern Western newspapers. The content analysis and its evaluation are both quantitative and qualitative. The findings of the content analysis confirm much of the theoretical work of the earlier chapters. The central finding of this thesis is the gradual erosion of an earlier "Romanticist" interpretation and its increasing replacement by forms of interpretations summarised by the term "Negativity/Hostility". This process is not considered to be irreversible and the thesis hopes to contribute to more adequate, comprehensive and empathetic evaluations and relations between East and West.

ement among economists as to why interest should be paid, it was almost unanimously held by most if not all economists that interest is necessary for banking and consequently necessary for financial and economic development and that any religion, like Islam, that prohibits interest, is an obstacle to economic growth and development. This view was not exclusively held by Western economists who may not know much about Islam, but even by some Muslim thinkers who, repeating the controversial arguments justifying interest, claimed that there is no other way to develop except to leave the religion of Islam aside or at least its economic and political aspects because it stands in the way of progress and development. However, there were some other Muslim scholars who were not so convinced of the Western and pro-Western idea that interest is a necessary component of any financial and economic development and were convinced that if Allah has forbidden interest then there must be something wrong with it and when He allowed trade and PLS (Profit and Loss Sharing) system of finance as alternatives, then these must, perhaps, lead to the achievement of greater financial and economic development 'without tears' (Kahf 1978). They sought in the Koran and Sunnah a way of doing banking and encouraging development that is not only complying with Shariah but that may lead to a more just and more beneficial way of development. They dug into the historical practices of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), his companions and the early followers and found that the alternatives, to interest, that were acceptable to, maintained and encouraged by, Islam, are trade (profit) and the PLS system which were practiced long before the rise of Islam, so they just applied the principles to today's banking practices and called it 'Islamic Banking'. This study aims to show that interest is not a necessary component of banking, as was widely held before, and that Islam, by prohibiting interest and permitting profit and Profit sharing as alternatives, is not an obstacle to, but a promoter of, economic growth and development with social justice. This study also attempts to distill and refine the theoretical bases of Islamic Banking. It critically surveys and discusses the different theories that have been advanced to justify interest and profits and compares the functions and institutions of the Islamic Financial and Banking Systems with their Interest-Based counterparts. It also discusses the likely impact of the Profit and Loss Sharing (PLS) system, and empirically analyses the performance of some of the oldest Islamic Banks vis-a-vis the performance of the Interest-Based Banks of the same countries. The empirical analyses undertaken showed that Islamic banking is more appropriate and more relevant to the economic growth and development of the Muslim World. Despite the fact that they are operating in hostile and non Islamic environments, the existing Islamic Banks have managed to mobilise substantial amounts of deposits and contributed greatly to the finance of many economic sectors and projects of the countries they are working in.

The education and training systems in many Muslim countries have remained traditional and resistant to innovation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has attempted to innovate whilst preserving worthwhile traditions through introducing a system of administration which combines the modern and the traditional. The attempt has been only partiy successful. This thesis attempts to throw some light on the main reasons for the technical/industrial education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remaining weak. Chapter one looks into the historical background of education in the Arabian peninsula from the period before Islam until the emergence of Saudi Arabia. An attempt has been made to trace the main historical events which may have some significant effects on the status of the education and training system. Chapter two presents the contemporary education and training system in the country and highlights the effects of the weak relations and coordination between the various training establishments. Chapter three examines the Government's policies towards technical/industrial education through studying the five Development Plans (1970 to 1995), which explains the effects of separate planning for economy and education. Chapter four analyses the general concept of vocational education in the West as well as the Islamic notions. Some of the most important reasons for devaluation of the vocational education provision in the West and in the Islamic world have been discussed. Chapter five presents a historical sketch of the education and training system in England and extracts some lessons from its experience. Chapter six presents empirical evidence of weakness of technical/industrial education through the field work carried out in the industrial institutes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The overall summary of the thesis and the conclusions drawn from the present study are presented in chapter seven. The traditional view of education was found to be the most important among the various reasons concluded for the weakness of the education and training system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It held back the education system in isolation from social and economic developments and deprived its graduates from effective participation in the development process of the country. The thesis recommended a comprehensive and constructive integration of the modern and traditional models in the Kingdom. To achieve this comprehensive and constructive integration, extensive and broad changes of attitudes and ways of thinking are required from the policy makers of the educational system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.