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
Religious clerics, medical authorities, and sexuality in Islamic interpretations of reproductive health technologies in Egypt. Taking reproductive health in Egypt as a case study, this research investigates how religious and secular authorities interact to shape access to and availability of medical technologies. The resulting ethnography and research articles will broaden international understandings of the relationship between Islam, sexuality, and modernity.
Islam and Secular Urban Culture in Early Modern Middle East. Australia is the homeland of a growing Muslim community, and Islam is an important feature in Australia's religious and cultural landscape. The project contributes to expanding Australia's knowledge of Islam, to developing its ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally, and internationally, and to heightening the Muslims' respect for the modern secular culture by mak ....Islam and Secular Urban Culture in Early Modern Middle East. Australia is the homeland of a growing Muslim community, and Islam is an important feature in Australia's religious and cultural landscape. The project contributes to expanding Australia's knowledge of Islam, to developing its ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally, and internationally, and to heightening the Muslims' respect for the modern secular culture by making them aware of their creative role in its making. It addresses a prevailing misunderstanding about secular culture in Islam and enhances Australia's international reputation as a centre of cutting-edge research in the fields of Islamic studies.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100230
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,402.00
Summary
Transnational networks of Salafi Clerics. This project aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the transnational networks of the ultra-orthodox Salafi Sunni Muslim clerics. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of Islamic studies and religion in society by studying transnational religious actors. This project offers new insights on the workings of Salafi clerical networks, and how these clerics attempt to influence and operate in Muslim societies. Since Salafism is bl ....Transnational networks of Salafi Clerics. This project aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the transnational networks of the ultra-orthodox Salafi Sunni Muslim clerics. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of Islamic studies and religion in society by studying transnational religious actors. This project offers new insights on the workings of Salafi clerical networks, and how these clerics attempt to influence and operate in Muslim societies. Since Salafism is blamed for providing the ideological foundations for extremism, the project provides significant benefits to the scholarly community as well as for policy makers, intelligence professionals and the general public in Australia and worldwide.Read moreRead less
Islam, Modernity and the Enlightenment: A New Perspective. Australia's encounters with Islam have never been as politically, militarily and emotionally demanding as the events of the last few years have revealed. In the current climate of tension and conflict a deeper understanding of Islam - its socio-religious and intellectual history, its systems of thought, and its attitude towards modernity and the modern world - is vital to enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regi ....Islam, Modernity and the Enlightenment: A New Perspective. Australia's encounters with Islam have never been as politically, militarily and emotionally demanding as the events of the last few years have revealed. In the current climate of tension and conflict a deeper understanding of Islam - its socio-religious and intellectual history, its systems of thought, and its attitude towards modernity and the modern world - is vital to enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment. This project contributes to enhancing Australia's ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally and internationally.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