Celebrating a Life Beyond “Normal”

The book is a Festschrift celebrating the 70th birthday of Ziauddin Sardar, a scholar and public intellectual known for his work on postnormal times theory and Islamic thought. The theme centers on Sardar's impact on various fields, emphasizing his contributions to understanding Islam in a globalized world, envisioning alternative futures, and critiquing dominant societal paradigms while advocating for diversity, justice, and hope in a world characterized by accelerating change and complexity.

Described as Britain’s own polymath, Sardar is a leading voice in postnormal times theory, a framework for understanding our increasingly turbulent and unpredictable world. Contributors, including younger scholars mentored by Sardar, explore the breadth of his work across diverse fields such as:

• Islamic thought: Examining his contributions to understanding the Quran, Muslim futures, and navigating the complexities of faith in a globalized world
• Futures studies: Highlighting his critical approach to envisioning alternative futures and challenging dominant narratives of progress and development
• Social and cultural critique: Analyzing his perspectives on postmodernism, technology, and the interplay of tradition and modernity

Examining Sardar’s life and intellectual journey, emphasizing his commitment to truth, diversity, and social justice, this festschrift provides insights into his iconoclastic personality, sharp wit, and dedication to nurturing younger generations of thinkers. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for Sardar's contributions to navigating the complexities of our postnormal world and inspiring the creation of transnormal futures—futures that are more diverse, just, and hopeful. This book was originally published as a special issue of World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research.

Christopher Jones, Ph.D. is Senior Fellow, Centre for Postnormal Policy and Futures Studies, London, United Kingdom; Executive Director, the Transnormal Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States; and, Faculty, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, New Hampshire, United States. He has taught in the University of Hawaii's and University of Houston's futures studies programs and was Secretary-General of the World Futures Studies Federation (2001-2005).