Democratizing the Middle East: implications of Washington's policies. Regime change has been justified by the coalition of willing as beneficial to the promotion of democracy and stable governance in the Middle East. It is, therefore, important to examine how effective this project has been. Australia's foreign policy towards the region resembles that of the United States, including military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. This involvement warrants an assessment of the way state building h ....Democratizing the Middle East: implications of Washington's policies. Regime change has been justified by the coalition of willing as beneficial to the promotion of democracy and stable governance in the Middle East. It is, therefore, important to examine how effective this project has been. Australia's foreign policy towards the region resembles that of the United States, including military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. This involvement warrants an assessment of the way state building has set these two societies on a democratic trajectory, and whether they are serving as beacons of democracy in their neighbourhood. It is in Australia's national interests to have a realistic assessment of its foreign policy impact in the Middle East and Central Asia. Read moreRead less
Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-com ....Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-communal relations by promoting confrontation and intolerance. This study will make a vital contribution to our understanding of the forces that are shaping the future character of Indonesian Islam and inform how we should best engage with Indonesia though government and social initiatives, including aid, education and media activities.Read moreRead less
The Theological and Ideological Bases of al-Qa'ida's Political Tactics. This research moves beyond the conventional view of Islam and generates new understandings of the many complexities of political Islam, and the role of violence and terrorism; explores the theological and ideological foundations of al-Qa'ida's political tactics; the long-term objectives beyond al-Qa'ida's terrorist activity. It conceptualizes Islamic activism within time and space and, by implication, facilitates the formula ....The Theological and Ideological Bases of al-Qa'ida's Political Tactics. This research moves beyond the conventional view of Islam and generates new understandings of the many complexities of political Islam, and the role of violence and terrorism; explores the theological and ideological foundations of al-Qa'ida's political tactics; the long-term objectives beyond al-Qa'ida's terrorist activity. It conceptualizes Islamic activism within time and space and, by implication, facilitates the formulation of relevant policy responses. As a result, this project contributes to security and counter terrorism works and falls squarely within the National Research Priority, Safeguarding Australia (Terrorism and Transnational Crime). Read moreRead less
The Origins and Development of Islamic Terrorist Behaviour in Indonesia. This project has relevance for scholars, policy-makers and the broader community in understanding the causes and dynamics of terrorism in Indonesia. It will advance the scholarly debate about terrorist motivations and the relative importance of international and local factors. Its findings will be of direct relevance for the government in helping shape counter-terrorism and foreign aid policies. Against a background of c ....The Origins and Development of Islamic Terrorist Behaviour in Indonesia. This project has relevance for scholars, policy-makers and the broader community in understanding the causes and dynamics of terrorism in Indonesia. It will advance the scholarly debate about terrorist motivations and the relative importance of international and local factors. Its findings will be of direct relevance for the government in helping shape counter-terrorism and foreign aid policies. Against a background of continuing high public and media interest in terrorism, this project will make available information and analysis which contribute to informed discussion. Finally, this study will help to enhance Australia's reputation for expertise on terrorism and Islamic radicalism in our region.Read moreRead less
Islamic Perceptions of Justice in International Relations. This research moves beyond the conventional view of Islam and the West dichotomy and explores the middle ground. It explores the potential for redressing Muslim grievances through the existing international system by examining the sources of these grievances. It contextualises Islamic activism within time and space and, by implication, facilitates the formulation of relevant policy responses. As a result, this project contributes to a de ....Islamic Perceptions of Justice in International Relations. This research moves beyond the conventional view of Islam and the West dichotomy and explores the middle ground. It explores the potential for redressing Muslim grievances through the existing international system by examining the sources of these grievances. It contextualises Islamic activism within time and space and, by implication, facilitates the formulation of relevant policy responses. As a result, this project contributes to a de-ideologised view of the Muslim experience and the building of bridges to cross the imagined schism between Islam and the West. Read moreRead less
Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions f ....Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions for Indonesia's internal security and political stability; this research will increase Australia's knowledge on this critical topic by focussing on orations staged in sensitive political environments: rural communities, the urban poor and army barracks.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354469
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Studies on Islam and Muslim Societies. This is a stock-taking initiative to examine the strength and limitations of Australian-based research on Islam and Muslim Societies. It will survey current research activity across social science disciplines and explore its contribution to our understanding of issues and challenges that are often attributed to Islam and Muslims. The compiled research profile will also test the degree to which current research on Islam and aspects of Muslim lives has inform ....Studies on Islam and Muslim Societies. This is a stock-taking initiative to examine the strength and limitations of Australian-based research on Islam and Muslim Societies. It will survey current research activity across social science disciplines and explore its contribution to our understanding of issues and challenges that are often attributed to Islam and Muslims. The compiled research profile will also test the degree to which current research on Islam and aspects of Muslim lives has informed the policy-making process in the 'war on terror'. This initiative brings together researchers from 11 Australian universities and will culminate in a final report, also forming the basis of a full Network application.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101517
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,367.00
Summary
Through the Lens of Sufism: Global Dissemination of Knowledge in Islam. This project aims to investigate the intellectual legacy of Sufism on Islamic thought. Using an interdisciplinary approach it expects to generate new knowledge about the influence of Sufism since the thirteenth century, through a detailed analysis of newly-identified medieval texts and their transmission and dissemination throughout knowledge systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a challenge to conventional under ....Through the Lens of Sufism: Global Dissemination of Knowledge in Islam. This project aims to investigate the intellectual legacy of Sufism on Islamic thought. Using an interdisciplinary approach it expects to generate new knowledge about the influence of Sufism since the thirteenth century, through a detailed analysis of newly-identified medieval texts and their transmission and dissemination throughout knowledge systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a challenge to conventional understandings about the chronology and structures of Islamic thought, and the first global mapping of Islamic intellectual networks. The project should provide significant benefits including an improved appreciation of the influences on, and complexities of, Islamic thought in the modern world.Read moreRead less
Interreligious Relations between Muslims and People of other Faiths. Traditional Islamic law and theology developed a wide range of negative positions about people of other faiths. Based on extensive fieldwork, this project aims to understand how and to what extent prominent Muslim religious leaders are transforming these negative positions to positive ones today in Australia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Singapore. The project will lead to an evidence-based understanding of the potential for future ....Interreligious Relations between Muslims and People of other Faiths. Traditional Islamic law and theology developed a wide range of negative positions about people of other faiths. Based on extensive fieldwork, this project aims to understand how and to what extent prominent Muslim religious leaders are transforming these negative positions to positive ones today in Australia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Singapore. The project will lead to an evidence-based understanding of the potential for future interreligious harmony in these countries. Since positive interreligious relations are of domestic, regional and global concern for social cohesion and peace and security, the outcomes of this project will be of significant interest to both scholars and policymakers in Australia.Read moreRead less
Religion, Finance and Ethics: Islamic and conventional perspectives on shared principles, practices, and financial institutions and instruments. By linking together specialists in finance, banking and religious history, with the Muslim Community Cooperative (Australia), this project explores communication and mutual benefit between international Islamic finance and conventional Western finance. It will propose new financial structures and instruments to expand the scope of Islamic finance, to m ....Religion, Finance and Ethics: Islamic and conventional perspectives on shared principles, practices, and financial institutions and instruments. By linking together specialists in finance, banking and religious history, with the Muslim Community Cooperative (Australia), this project explores communication and mutual benefit between international Islamic finance and conventional Western finance. It will propose new financial structures and instruments to expand the scope of Islamic finance, to maximise lending and investment opportunities in Australia, and to promote interaction between the Islamic and conventional financial sectors. The project will enable Australian researchers to work with international authorities in Islamic finance, promoting dialogue between Islamic and other groups, and increase investment and development within the Australian financial market.Read moreRead less