Session 6: Interesting Concepts Prevailing Today

      In the reading allotted to us for session 6, the main concepts of governments, systems and regimes are stressed over. I found Hobbes’ approval of the notion of absolutism to be of particular interest since I have studied about the English civil war in another course that I have enrolled in this semester. Hobbes basically opposed the view of Oliver Cromwell, who led the parliamentarians during the English Civil War and believed that for the proper functioning of a society, the absolute power of a monarch should not be undermined.  It should be noted however, that his thoughts about the king having the ‘divine right’ to rule is what began to come off as absurd during the time, and is a reason pointing towards my disapproval of his theory too.

       This reading even stated that East Asian societies are still heavily influenced by Confucianism (the followings of Confucius), and I think it’s fascinating how such a way of life, which might be considered as backwards and demeaning( considering the fact that patriarchy is dominant in many arenas of life in East Asia), is still given respect to this day. I even think it’s interesting to note that it is after the death of Confucius that his students chose to compile his works and they managed to shape the way of thinking in East Asian society to such a great extent. Also I think it’s vital to understand how China differs from the West in the sense that it is not so much about independence because the position of parents and their rights are heavily stressed upon(the teachings of Confucius are enough to show that).

      In the section about Islamic regimes, the fact that Islam can be the driving force in different regimes and still cause them to be different is what strikes to me as important. Other than that I can’t help but think of how patriarchy in East Asia is not viewed as negatively as the patriarchy in Islamic states is. Furthermore, I wish that the empowerment of women in Islam is something that comes to light and shows the world that if Islamic states seem to be ignoring the oppression of women, they are overlooking some major aspects of their religion.