Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at the scientific conference titled “Scientific Dialogue on an Alternative Civilizational Model Against Western Unilateralism,” Hojatoleslam Hamid Parsania, a member of the academic board of Baqir al-Olum University, delivered a historical and philosophical analysis of intellectual developments in the West following the First and Second World Wars.
Parsania noted that in the aftermath of the two world wars, Marxism emerged from within modern Western civilization and liberalism as an internal “other” to the capitalist system. However, he argued that this movement ultimately failed to withstand the structural dominance of liberal capitalism and was gradually marginalized in the course of history.
Referring to the landmark letter written by the late Imam Khomeini (RA) to the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Parsania offered a philosophical and mystical reading of the message. He said the letter contained a profound critique of the foundational weaknesses of Western philosophy and worldview, while simultaneously presenting Islamic philosophy, Islamic wisdom, and the intellectual heritage of Muslim thinkers as a serious and viable alternative.
According to Parsania, Imam Khomeini’s recommendation in the letter that Soviet elites directly engage with Islamic wisdom and philosophy reflected a deep confidence in Islam’s epistemological strength and civilizational potential. “This message demonstrated that Islam does not merely criticize Western modernity, but possesses its own coherent intellectual system capable of addressing fundamental human and societal questions,” he said.
Addressing developments following the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, the Baqir al-Olum University faculty member noted that with the decline of Marxism and the renewed dominance of the West, Western intellectuals began promoting the concept of a “dialogue of civilizations.” He argued that the emergence of this idea signaled a growing realization in the West that its internal crises could not be resolved solely from within the framework of Western civilization, and that engagement with other civilizational traditions had become unavoidable.
Emphasizing the distinctive position of Islamic civilization, Parsania stated that Islam stands as the most serious and meaningful civilizational competitor to the West. He pointed to its profound spiritual foundations, faith-based worldview, and rich social structures, noting that Islamic civilization possesses the capacity not only to guide individual life but also to govern society and present a holistic civilizational model.
For this reason, he added, the Islamic world has gained particular importance in Western strategic and intellectual calculations. At the same time, Parsania stressed that the Islamic world itself contains vast and underutilized capacities. He argued that the maturation and revival of Islamic civilization depend on strengthening internal empathy, expanding cooperation, and activating these latent potentials across Muslim societies.
The conference concluded with discussions on the prospects of alternative civilizational models and the role of Islamic thought in addressing global challenges, with participants underscoring the need for sustained intellectual engagement and cooperation to advance a multipolar and just global order.
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