Inaugural speech delivered at the University of Amsterdam on Dec. 11, 2008. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Diploma thesis "Islamic civilization: A comparison of representative interpretations" presents theoretical and historical approach to comparative study of Islamic society by interpretation and comparison of principal scholars in which the author lays emphasis on basic social patterns of this society in long-term and dynamic development as well as on its role within modernization transformations. The main goal is to contribute by selective reflexion to understanding of the long-term historical experiences, its peculiar world views and institutional patterns as well as the ways it participates in history of the world. For this purpose the author employs interpretations and comparisons of the selected authors with particular focus on conception of Muslim society in the writings of Ernest Gellner. The first part is engaged in definition of Islamic civilization concept as one of the largest socio-cultural complexes in Eurasian macro-region. The second part focuses on political traditions and transformations as well as to some extent on economic structure of Islamic civilization. The last part pursues Islamic society as prospective alternative modernity in comparison to diverse conceptions of Islam interpretations proposed by other social science scholars.