Strategic Studies of the Islamic Revolution

Strategic Studies of the Islamic Revolution

The Family Amid Civilizational Confrontation: Religious Family-Oriented Actors of the World in Opposition to Individualist Civilization

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Although civilizational confrontation has been examined from various perspectives and possesses a substantial scholarly literature, the subject of the family also constitutes part of this body of knowledge and has produced numerous theoretical and practical outcomes. An examination of macro-level transformations concerning the family demonstrates that major developments—particularly since the twentieth century—have been centered on the family. This is because individualism or familism, as significant components of the core of left- and right-wing orientations, have constituted central axes of global transformation, each seeking to establish its own corresponding structures and thereby intensifying confrontation. The aim of this article is to demonstrate a civilizational approach centered on this axis. The research method is library-based with content analysis. In this study, alongside reference to sensitive concepts and foundational propositions—including individualism, familism, and sexual diversity—the notion of a “smart confrontation” for the protection of the family at the global level is elaborated. The findings indicate: the existence of an intelligent global confrontation for the protection of the family; the necessity for Muslims to protect the family through a civilizational and structure-building perspective; and the need for pragmatic action among Muslims within subcultures to safeguard the family. Consequently, family-oriented civilization is gender-conscious and religion-oriented, possessing full readiness for a large-scale religious coalition. Such a coalition may emerge at the global level among followers of the Abrahamic religions; at the level of Islamic countries among Islamic governments and Muslim-majority states; and at the subcultural level among Muslims themselves.
10.22034/irsj.2026.243542
Abstract
Although civilizational confrontation has been examined from various perspectives and possesses a substantial scholarly literature, the subject of the family also constitutes part of this body of knowledge and has produced numerous theoretical and practical outcomes. An examination of macro-level transformations concerning the family demonstrates that major developments—particularly since the twentieth century—have been centered on the family. This is because individualism or familism, as significant components of the core of left- and right-wing orientations, have constituted central axes of global transformation, each seeking to establish its own corresponding structures and thereby intensifying confrontation. The aim of this article is to demonstrate a civilizational approach centered on this axis. The research method is library-based with content analysis. In this study, alongside reference to sensitive concepts and foundational propositions—including individualism, familism, and sexual diversity—the notion of a “smart confrontation” for the protection of the family at the global level is elaborated. The findings indicate: the existence of an intelligent global confrontation for the protection of the family; the necessity for Muslims to protect the family through a civilizational and structure-building perspective; and the need for pragmatic action among Muslims within subcultures to safeguard the family. Consequently, family-oriented civilization is gender-conscious and religion-oriented, possessing full readiness for a large-scale religious coalition. Such a coalition may emerge at the global level among followers of the Abrahamic religions; at the level of Islamic countries among Islamic governments and Muslim-majority states; and at the subcultural level among Muslims themselves.
Keywords