CIMOW Researchers and their Fields of Interest
The Centre for Islam and the Modern World is based in the School of Political and Social Inquiry (PSI) of the Faculty of Arts. PSI is one of the largest schools within the Faculty of Arts. Established in 1999, it comprises the following program areas: Anthropology, Behavioural Studies, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Politics, Sociology, and Women's Studies and Gender Research. Also within PSI are the Centres for Population and Urban Research, and the Global Terrorism Research Unit.
Academics associated with CIMOW
Professor Greg Barton - Greg is the Acting Director of CIMOW and UNESCO Deputy Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific. Herb Feith Research Professor for the Study of Indonesia, PSI. Greg is currently completing a book on the role of Islam in post-Suharto Indonesia; studying the evolution of Islamist movements in Southeast Asia and researching progressive Islamic thought and social movements in Indonesia and Turkey.
Areas of supervision: Islamist movements in Southeast Asia, progressive Islamic thought and social movements in Indonesia and Turkey and in diaspora communities around the world
Dr Irfan Ahmad - Irfan joined as a Lecturer in Politics in March 2009; previously, he taught at University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Irfan’s monograph Islamism and Democracy in India was published from the Princeton University Press in 2009. Currently, his research focuses on anthropological exploration of the premises and the working of liberalism, secular nationalism and the minoritized collectivities. Through an in-depth examination of Indian Muslims, he aims to develop a comparative framework of understanding the religious and political life of Muslims minorities in South Asia and the West.
Areas of supervision: Sociology/Anthropology of Islam; Islam and Modernity; Multiculturalism, Pluralism and Islam; Intellectual History of Islam; Islamic Movements; Contemporary Muslim Thought Islam and Gender; Culture, Religion and Politics in Modern South Asia and the West Nation, Nationalism, Transnationalism and Islam; Urdu Literature, Social Theories, Cultural Criticism
Professor Emeritus Gary Bouma - UNESCO Chair for Inter-religious & Inter-cultural Relations – Asia Pacific. A sociologist of religion of international standing, Gary is leading a research team studying the diversity of Muslim communities in Australia.
Areas of supervision: Sociology of religion, Muslim communities in Australia
Dr Faridullah Bezhan - Research Fellow in Monash Asia Institute. Faridullah is studying Afghani Literature, Satire, War and Anti-war Literature.
Areas of supervision: Afghani Literature, and society, Islamist thought
Hanifa Deen - Honorary Research Fellow.
Award-winning author Hanifa is researching the development of Australia Muslim identity.
Prof Constant Mews - Director, Centre for Religion and Theology.
An expert in medieval religious thought and practice Constant is researching the contributions of Islam to medieval and renaissance thought and culture.
Areas of supervision: Medieval religious thought and practice,the contributions of Islam to medieval and renaissance thought and culture
Dr Julian Millie - Post Doctoral Research Fellow in PSI.
Julian is currently studying the evolution of contemporary Islamic observance in Indonesia, as performed by villagers, santri (students) and followers of the mystical orders.
Areas of supervision: The evolution of contemporary Islamic observance in Indonesia
Dr Peter Lentini - Director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre (GTReC).
A scholar of social movements Pete is researching the psychology and social dynamics of Islamist movements and researching Muslim identity in Australia.
Areas of supervision: Social movements, the psychology and social dynamics of Islamist movements, Muslim identity in Australia
Dr Tahmina Rashid - Research Fellow
Dr James Gomez - Deputy Associate Dean (International) and Head of Public Relations, HUMCASS.
James has over 15 years of international experience as a policy and communications specialist in inter-governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations. He has in-depth field experience researching in East and Southeast Asia and has spent time in post-conflict and crisis affected societies of Columbia, Ghana, Nepal, Peru and Sudan. James is currently finalising a co-edited book entitled New Media and Human Rights in Southeat Asia
Areas of supervision: use of media and the internet for citizen journalism, advocacy campaigns, political communication and its relationship with Islam in East and Southeast Asia
Prof Marika Vicziany - Director, Monash Asia Institute.
One of Australia’s leading scholars of South Asia Marika is researching Muslims in Western China, Islamic terrorism in India and the role of Islam in Malaysian political culture.
Areas of supervision: Muslims in Western China, Islamic terrorism in India and the role of Islam in Malaysian political culture
Dr Salih Yucel - Appointed at the end of 2007 as Lecturer in Islamic Studies in the school of Historical Studies and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, at Monash Salih has broad interests in Islamic thought and contemporary Muslim society. Prior to moving to Melbourne he studied and worked in Ankara, Sydney and Boston. His current research is about "Memories of early Muslim immigrants in Australia." He is also a consultant to the Australian Intercultural Society and working on a research about how dialogue can be promoted between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Waleed Aly - Lecturer in Politics, Political and Social Inquiry.
Waleed explored the mistaken thinking behind ideas of essential difference in his 2007 book People Like Us and is currently researching these issues further in his PhD research.
Dr Aneela Baber - Research Fellow in Monash Asia Institute.
Aneela is researching civil society, gender and migration in Pakistan, and Islam and Pashtun identity politics.