This book investigates the current level and trend of poverty in the
Muslim World, including selected countries in Africa, the Middle East
and Central Asia, East Asia, the Pacific and South America. Authors
explore themes of poverty reduction, poverty alleviation and the extent
of influences on social and economic development, particularly natural
resource endowments (especially mineral resources) and their
utilization. Chapters explore theory and practice, including governance
and programmes, and take a detailed look at Zakat as a faith-based
policy tool, to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods and thus
contribute to better environmental stewardship. The final chapters look
at development questions in the Muslim World and make policy
recommendations, including a proposed multi-dimensional development
collaboration model called the Development Collaboration Octagon Model
(DeCOM). Readers will discover theoretical explanations of poverty and
how poverty hampers the development of many nations because the poor are
unable to partake actively in the development process. Poverty
indicators and measurement are discussed, and trends of economic growth
including productivity, manufacturing, trade patterns, investment and
saving activity, and socio-economic developments are all explored:
supporting data is presented in tables and figures, throughout this
text. Authors explore the potency and success stories of public poverty
alleviation strategies and programmes pursued in the Muslim world,
especially the extent to which the institution of Zakat has been
effectively incorporated into public poverty alleviation strategies.
Policy options required to enhance social and economic development are
proposed, to help pull the poor out of the poverty trap into the
mainstream economy in the Muslim world. This work will appeal to anyone
wishing to scrutinise poverty, its parameters and its relationship with
the development of countries in the Muslim world. Scholars in the fields
of economics, sociology, geography and Islamic studies will all find
something of value here.
