o:id 5407 url https://islam.zmo.de/s/westafrica/item/5407 o:resource_template Thesis and dissertation o:resource_class bibo:Thesis dcterms:title The construction of Muslim identities and social change in Zinder, Republic of Niger dcterms:subject social change Zinder dcterms:publisher Michigan State University dcterms:date 1997 dcterms:type https://islam.zmo.de/s/westafrica/item/8649 dcterms:identifier https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117312344 Q117312344 iwac-reference-0000625 dcterms:language https://islam.zmo.de/s/westafrica/item/8322 dcterms:abstract Social scientists have long debated the appropriate perspective from which to study cultural phenomena. On one side are objectivist perspectives which focus on structure and the constraints society places on the individual. Conversely, subjectivist approaches centralize the actions of the individual and are thus concerned with the influence the individual has on society. In this study of Muslim identity construction in Zinder, Niger is used as a vehicle for mediating objectivist and subjectivist views of culture. Practice theory provides the framework for the analysis of Muslim identity construction in Zinder which in turn furthers an understanding of the relationship between structure and practice. Based on data collected in Zinder during individual interviews, group interviews and participant observation, several conclusions emerge. First, a consideration of both objectivist and subjectivist perspectives is important for understanding cultural phenomena. Second, this is evident in the dialectical relationship which exists between structure and practice as seen in the dialectical relationship which exists between society and the individual. And finally, although both perspectives need to be considered, it is by focusing on the actions of individuals that one learns the most about culture. dcterms:spatial https://islam.zmo.de/s/westafrica/item/540 dcterms:provenance East Lansing bibo:authorList https://islam.zmo.de/s/westafrica/item/1691 bibo:numPages 424 --