Example international finance dissertation topic 4:

15) Islamic banking: A matter of semantics?

A popular presentation of Islamic banking is that it does not charge interest. This study challenges that view and suggests that the reality of Islamic banking differs little from conventional banking, other than in terminology. It undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms of Islamic banking and compares them to traditional banking, taking note of papers such as those by Zaman and Movassaghi (2002) and Chong and Liu (2009). Further, the paper considers how much the presentation of Islamic banking is a propaganda tool of the resurgence of Islam globally.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Chong, B.S. and Liu, M.H. (2009) ‘Islamic banking: Interest-free or interest-based?’ Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Vol. 17(1), pp. 125-144.
• Siddiqui, M.N. (2001) ‘Islamic banking: True modes of financing’, New Horizon, pp. 15-20.
• Zaman, M.R. and Movassaghi, H. (2002) ‘Interest-free Islamic banking: Ideals and reality’, The International Journal of Finance, Vol. 14(4), pp. 2428-2443.