Book Launch Event "Southeast Asian Muslims in the Era of Globalization"

Day：2015.09.25

event ｜

  • DaySeptember 25, 2015(Fri)
    14:00-15:40（Registration starts at 13：30）
  • PlaceConference Room 600, 6th Floor, JICA Ichigaya Building
  • Map Link Map
  • OrganizerJICA Research Institute
  • LanguageEnglish
  • FeeFree
  • Capacity100 seats

Contents

Muslim society in Southeast Asia has been gaining more attention in terms of politics, economics and culture, since the percentage of Muslim population accounts for approximately half among ASEAN’s 620 million. Islam and Muslims in Southeast Asia, however, have not been properly understood. Two sets of contradictory terms have at least been applied to them. On the one hand, they are imagined as being syncretistic and localized, and thought to be different from their counterparts in the Middle East. On the other hand, the danger of radical Islam has been emphasized and Southeast Asia suddenly is considered a potential risk in the context of the global war on terrorism.

JICA Research Institute (JICA-RI) conducted a cross-country empirical research project from 2008 to 2011 to identify and understand the apparent contradictions in the perception of role of the Muslims and to analyze their responses to globalization and how they negotiate their identity within the larger, more modern and multicultural and multireligious Southeast Asia. This research was aimed at understanding the present state of Muslim society in Southeast Asia and its likely future direction.

Book: Southeast Asian Muslims in the Era of Globalization

For this event, JICA-RI has invited Dr. Ken Miichi, one of the co-editors, to introduce the background and overview of the book. Subsequently, Dr. Omar Farouk, another co-editor will evaluate the impact of globalization on the Muslims in Southeast Asia especially taking the example from Cambodia. Finally, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, being himself a Thai Muslim with a deep interest in peace and stability in Muslim societies, will give his insights and suggestions on achieving peaceful and harmonized society in Southeast Asia.

Photo:
Chidren praying in a mosque, Malaysia
(Natsuki Yasuda, studio AFTERMODE/JICA)

■Tentative Program

  • 14:00-14:25 The overview of the book referring the current Muslim society and democracy in Southeastern
    Asian countries
    Ken Miichi, Associate Professor, Iwate Prefectural University
  • 14:25-14:45 The impact of Globalization on the Muslims in Southeast Asia
    Omar Farouk, Professor Emeritus, Hiroshima City University/
    Centre for Policy Research and International Studies,Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
  • 14:45-15:05 Where should Muslim society be heading for?
    Surin Pitsuwan, Distinguished Fellow, JICA-RI
  • 15:05-15:35 Question and answer
  • 15:35-15:40 Closing remarks Ichiro Tambo, Director JICA Research Institute

Apply

Please register your participation at the application button

Inquiry

JICA Research Institute/M. Okamoto, M. Horii, E-mail：ditas-rsunit@jica.go.jp, TEL: +81-3-3269-2959