Authority without Territory: The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili Imamate (Literatures and Cultures of the Islamic World)

Examining the connection between the concept of authority and the transformation of the Ismaili imamate, Authority without Territory is the first study of the imamate in contemporary times. With a particular focus on Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary leader of Shi?a Imami Ismaili Muslims, Daryoush Mohammad Poor shows how the Ismaili imamate surpasses the barriers and restrictions of the Weberian ideal-types and represents a novel image of a Shi?i Muslim community that has successfully adapted to modernity without losing its essential values or ethical commitments. Including interviews with key figures in the intellectual and administrative arms of the Ismaili imamate, this book sheds light on how these institutions develop and the challenges they face.