Social capital of Muslim community as a mechanism of preventing radicalism (based on the materials of charitable projects of «Yardem» community)

Abstract

This article examines the process of Islamic charitable activities formation in the PostSoviet Russia on the example ofKazan«Yardem» Foundation. The study of this phenomenon considers two theoretical approaches where the first is the «symbolic capital of Pierre Bourdieu» and the second is the «moral economy», developed by a number of authors. In our opinion, the development of Muslim «Yardem» Foundation can serve as a textbook example of how the attitude towards economy as to a moral instrument for achieving social justice can lead to the formation of a large charity project. At the same time, charity work turns out to be a symbolic capital that receives recognition not only from the society but also from the state. Along with the formation and functioning reconstruction of «Yardem» Foundation, our study also raises the fact of how the development of Muslim charity and social work can become one of the mechanisms for preventing extremism.