Following from the previous two lectures where we discussed the development of pre-modern polities in Southeast Asia, let us remember some salient points:
1. That up to the mid-19th century (re our discussion of Munshi Abdullah etc) there was still NO understanding of what the term ‘Malaya’ meant. The political entity that we recognise today as [...]
Keynote address at the conference ‘Religious Activism and Women’s Development in Southeast Asia’, 20 Nov 2009, Singapore
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(Note: below are selected passages only)
I. Introduction: How the Persian ambassador was shocked by the ruler of Aceh
There is an account of the 17th century Persian embassy that was despatched to the court of the Maharaja of Ayudhaya, Siam: [...]
To sum up the discussion from last week and this week’s lecture, let us remind ourselves of the following:
1. The pre-modern, pre-colonial polities of Southeast Asia were by and large maritime or riverine polities where power was centralised in the form of the king, who in turn was not as powerful as he may have [...]
One question that came up several times last week and which we will address further this week is the question of Culture and History and their impact on contemporary politics.
Now let me re-iterate some of the points we covered last week:
1. We cannot assume that culture and history - both variables - have a determining [...]
(Note: This article first appeared in the epicly excellent site, The Nut Graph. Furthermore, at the said epicly excellent site (where there are many other excellent, sublime, seminal, magnum opus-sy articles, by the way), this article is accompanied by pretty pictures. And was properly edited too. – Yusseri)
Silly season seems to still be around in [...]
(Note: These are highlights of the presentation I gave at the Socialism 2009 meeting in KL over the weekend, organised by the PSM)
The logic of neo-liberal economics operates on one unstated premise: That citizens are universal subjects who are both suppliers of alienable/alienated labour as well as consumers of the very same goods and services [...]
I am currently reading the fascinating study ‘Official Ulama and the Politics of Re-Islamisation: The Majelis Permesyuwaratan Ulama, Shariatisation and Contested Religious Authority in Post-New Order Aceh’ by my dear friend and colleague Moch Nur Ichwan of Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University, Jogjakarta. It has proven to be a worthwhile effort that has taught me many [...]
It would appear that there are some in Malaysia who are fearful of the influence of Wahabis in the country, and what this might entail in the future. But before I continue this writer would like to congratulate Abdar Rahman Koya for his article ‘Asri’s Arrest Born of Ignorance and Fear‘, where he correctly notes [...]
It is now ‘moderate’ season once again when the leaders of the developed Western world are on the lookout for moderate Muslim states and leaders to engage in dialogue with as strategic, economic and political allies and partners. Needless to say, the leaders and governments of the Muslim world are equally pleased with this open [...]
The inter-religious dialogue process is a risky yet necessary vernture. For more than a decade now I have been part of the so-called international dialogue circuit and during this time I must have participated in around a hundred of these dialogues between the Western world and Islam. Notwithstanding the physical cost of these dialogue sessions [...]
