Islam and Peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific

Islam and Peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific provides a unique backdrop of how native or migrant Muslims interact with communities of other faiths have led to the contemporary treatment of Islam and the Muslim communities in these nations. This book is based on the theme of Islam's presence and development in the Asia-Pacific region, and the concerns faced by Muslims in the region. Section 1 details the current status of peace or conflict between Muslims and practitioners of other faiths in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines, and the role of Muslim institutions in promoting peace in each nation. Section 2 features how Muslims living in cosmopolitan areas such as Australia, Indonesia and Japan engage with people of other faiths. Lastly, Section 3 explores the concerns with the interaction of the religion, state and society in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. A unique collection of the history of Islam in the region, Islam and Peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific seeks to provide valuable insight for the global policy community by offering a comprehensive treatment of the issues highlighted.

Contents:

• Acknowledgements

• Introduction (Mohammed Nawab Mohammed Osman)

• The Role of Muslim Institutions in Promoting Inter-Communal Peace:

  • The Role of Muslim Organisations and Grassroots Activists in Rehabilitating Muslim–Buddhist Relations in Cambodia (Farina So)
  • Muslim Institutions and the Desecuritisation of the Muslim Community in Myanmar (Muhammad Ismail Ye Tun)
  • The Ulama of Southern Thailand: Passive Actors, Active Instigators or Possible Mediators? (Walid Jumblatt Abdullah)
  • Confidence-Building in the Southern Philippines: The Role of the Young Moro Professional Network (Nur Diyanah Anwar)

• Engagement in Cosmopolitan Societies:

  • Overcoming Challenges in Peacebuilding and Dialogue: The Case Study of Affinity Intercultural Foundation's Outreach Strategies in Australia (Mehmet Ozalp and Tamana Daqiq)
  • Indonesian Muslims within a Global Community (Rita Pranawati)
  • Institutionalising Islamic Values in Japan (Ahmad Shiozaki Yuki)

• Religion, State and Society: Issues, Challenges and Future Trajectories:

  • Islam in Governance and Statecraft in Brunei (Farish A Noor)
  • Promoting Peace: The Role of Muslim Civil Society in Countering Islamist Extremism and Terrorism in Indonesia (Noorhaidi Hasan)
  • Religious Diversity in Malaysia: Between Islamic Orthodoxy, Unorthodoxy and Deviancy (Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid)
  • Muslim Religious Leaders and the Promotion of Harmonious Coexistence in Singapore: Government Project or Community Initiative? (Tuty Raihanah Mostarom)

• About the Contributors

Readership: Students in the following fields: political science, policy studies, public policy, Islamic studies, religious studies, culture studies; government officials and policy-makers; inter-faith advocates; and international organizations.
Key Features:

• A unique collection of the history of Islam in nations from the Asia-Pacific region, the interaction between Muslim communities and the state and interfaith relations between Muslims and adherents of other faiths
• A collection of the papers presented at the first collaborative International Conference between Jamiyah Singapore and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation