Abstract
The aim of this study is to critically analyze a modern concept -the commodification of risk as a result of the financialized economic system and the consequences of this commodification process from an Islamic economics perspective. As the uncertainties in the pre-modern period have a measurable and quantitative character in the modern period, especially thanks to the development of statistical theories, calculable uncertainties have turned into the concept of risk. Risks, which are produced by people and can no longer be kept "implicit" in the globalizing world, have formed the "Risk Society" in Beck's words. Risk, which has now become a commodity in the risk society, has become easily tradable via derivative instruments in the economic system that has become financialized thanks to neoliberal policies. The facilities offered by technology and the opportunity to make fast transactions have served not only to manage the risk by using the products of the financial market, but also to make transactions to earn money on risk. Derivative instruments, which started to be traded in the over-the-counter markets in the 20th century, have basically three uses: hedging, speculation, and arbitrage. While the risk that the real sector is inevitably exposed to in globalized markets pushes people to hedge, a different segment has emerged that tries to make money on risk by speculation and arbitrage thanks to financialization. In the globalized economic system, companies engaged in importing and exporting have to be protected from exchange rate risk to conduct their commercial activities in a stable manner and to ensure their economic growth. As a result, in this extreme risk environment created by globalization, people aim to avoid risk by making derivative transactions. On the other hand, contrary to the sectors that produce real goods, the financial system we are in is a sector dominated by speculation and expectations; The financial system, which is based on risk speculation and expectations, has a determining character in all markets. While expectations express negativity for those who use derivatives for hedging purposes, speculators and arbitragers are those who benefit from the risk environment created by negative expectations, since such investors with rational thought aim to gain the maximum profit with the least effort through commodification of risk in the derivatives market. In the study, to analyze the problems caused by commodification of the risk from an Islamic economics perspective, first, the consequences of financialization are discussed, and then how the derivative instruments have commodified the risk is evaluated. Derivative instruments, which have an important place in meeting the financial needs of the society, increase the economic injustice by enabling the capital owners to speculate and arbitrage to make profit easily and to increase their capital. In summary, the financial system that should serve the needs of the society cannot provide this; on the contrary, the increase in transactions such as speculation causes the accumulation of capital in certain people and causes the economic order of the society to deteriorate. Although companies engaged in commercial activities based on imports and exports need derivative instruments for the stability of the real economy due to the exchange rate risk, investors using derivative products also use these tools to make profit in a short time. The use of derivative instruments in this way increases the financialization of the economy and acts as an intermediary for the capital owners to increase their capital rather than contributing to real production. The fact that capital owners channel their resources to derivatives and similar financial instruments rather than real production causes bigger problems on a large scale, especially financial crises. Derivative instruments do not seem appropriate in terms of maslahā, since this situation is not suitable for public utility and, according to the general acceptance in Islamic law, the benefit of the society comes before the interests of individuals. The aim of this article is to emphasize that even if derivative instruments offer a solution to the risks produced in the modern period, this solution leads to more financialization of the economy and a financial environment that leads investors to earn income from ways that are not suitable for the purposes of Islam. In this study, which includes the evaluation of derivative instruments according to Islamic law, the importance of evaluating the context in which derivative instruments arise in the fatwa process is emphasized, along with the compliance of contract conditions with Islamic law.