The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
The Institutionalization of Islam in Southern Senegal: Intermarriage, Qur’anic Education, and Jihad
English Summary
The analysis challenges traditional views of Islamization in Southern Senegal, arguing that the process was not a sudden imposition by external missionaries. Instead, it posits that Islam developed through an evolutionary and inclusive process beginning in the 17th century. This early institutionalization was facilitated by Muslim pioneers, including Sufi mystics and jihadist warriors, who integrated into local life through intermarriage and hospitality. This reframing suggests that contemporary religious dynamics, including the rise of jihadism, must be understood as part of a long-term, localized historical evolution rather than an external rupture.
中文摘要
本分析挑戰了關於塞內加爾南部伊斯蘭化（Islamization）的傳統觀點，認為該過程並非由外部傳教士突然強加。相反地，本文提出伊斯蘭教自17世紀起，透過一個演化且包容的過程發展起來。早期制度化過程的推動者包括蘇菲派神秘主義者和聖戰武士等穆斯林先驅，他們透過跨婚配和待客之道融入當地生活。這種重新建構的視角暗示，當代宗教動態，包括聖戰主義的興起，必須被理解為長期且在地化的歷史演變的一部分，而非外部的突變或斷裂。
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