Countering utopianism: Alatas and the Muslim resurgence of the 1970s

Abstract

Syed Hussein Alatas (1928-2007) was renowned for his contributions in the field of sociology, but little attention has been paid to his writings on Islam. This paper seeks to examine two of Alatas's works on Islam that were written in the 1970s, Islam dan Sosialisma (1976) and Kitz Dengan Islam (1979). In these works, he countered Utopian tendencies which emanated from the resurgence groups and promoted Islam based on universal principles, values, and reason. His analysis serves as a continuing critique of the thinking of certain quarters in Malay society today that promote the Islamisation of knowledge, systems, and institutions.