Discourse on fundamentalism has gained much attention in recent years, particularly in a post-9/11 context where extremist or terrorist threats are more prominent, perilous, and pervasive. This edited volume seeks to spotlight the perspectives of academics and practitioners vis-à-vis global trends in religious fundamentalism and right-wing extremism over the past decade. It presents a collection of works from notable academics and practitioners; including a selection of case studies from Asia to illustrate the contemporary interplay of religion, politics and identity; alongside broader global trends of religious fundamentalism.The chapters that follow attempt to trace the sources and factors that led to the dramatic rise in these powerful forces of faith, which influence societies and politics around the world. Together, they present a carefully curated narrative of the interplay of religion and identity politics globally and across Asia. The prevailing differences in demographics, history and the extent of ethno-religious diversity across country contexts are perused across each chapter, and the ensuing circumstances deliberated upon.As these circumstances change, the ways people interpret their identities, engage in politics, and navigate their religion will also evolve. How we manage the effects of religious fundamentalism must hence begin with an understanding of how religion, identity, and politics interact — and this is what the upcoming chapters seek to illustrate.

This book focuses on the dynamics of democracy and populism in Muslim-majority countries, such as Turkey and Indonesia. It does so by examining the complexities of democratic development in these areas, ranging from 'flawed' to 'hybrid' regimes. Despite the aspirations for democratic progress, recent democracy indices reveal a concerning trend of backsliding, particularly in the last decade. This regression can be attributed, in part, to the ascendancy of populist politics. Populist movements have adeptly exploited both real and perceived cultural insecurities to acquire, consolidate, and maintain political power. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in flawed democracies and hybrid regimes within Muslim-majority countries, such as Turkey and Indonesia. Notably, religion, specifically Islam, has emerged as a central tool within the populist playbook. Populist actors have constructed a religious-civilizational framework that leverages political binaries, manipulates insecurities, and fosters traditional anti-elite and anti-'other' sentiments. In this book, the authors advance the notion that populism is a multifaceted phenomenon that relies on various pre-existing fractures within societies and cultures. Once in power, populism intensifies these differences to further consolidate its position, utilizing various state apparatuses such as state-controlled religious institutions. This comprehensive analysis offers insights into the growing trend of populism in the Muslim world and its impact on contemporary politics.

This edited collection focuses on the comparative analysis of the application of Shari’a in countries with Muslim minorities (e.g. USA, Australia, Germany and Italy) and majorities (e.g. Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Morocco). Most chapters in this new edition have been revised and the book as a whole has been updated to give even more international coverage. This text provides a sociological and global analysis of a phenomenon that goes beyond the ‘West versus the rest’ dichotomy. One example of this is how included are case studies in Muslim minority countries not exclusively located in the West. Although the contributors of this book come from various disciplines such as law, anthropology, and sociology, this volume has a strong sociological focus on the analysis of Shari’a. The final part of the book indeed draws out from all the case studies explored some ground-breaking theories on the sociology of Shari’a such as the application of Black, Chambliss and Eisenstein’s sociological theories. This text appeals to students and researchers working in the sociology of religion.

Just like people around the world have done for generations, Arab people from the Middle East and North African (MENA) region have immigrated to various nations around the world. A number of ‘push’ factors account for why groups have left their homeland and ‘pulled’ to another nation to settle. The history and patterns of Arab migration out of the MENA illustrates the wide array of reasons for these patterns, primarily illustrating that mass emigration and settlement are highly linked to a number of factors, including social, political, economic, familial climates of each nation-state and its policies. If it is one takeaway that this edited volume brings to light, it is that the Arab MENA does not only include a diverse population within each nation-state it also illustrates the ways in which their settlement in new nations have contributed to their own identity development patterns, their communities, and that of their new nation-state. This book celebrates the achievements and acknowledges the challenges of the new communities that Arabs have built around the world. It shows examples of societies that have embraced the Arab diaspora as well as examples of sidelining these communities. These examples come from a number of subject areas, from music to international affairs. The examples are both contemporary and historical, authored by individuals with a diverse set of disciplinary lenses and professional training. This book is meant to fill a gap in the literature as it expands on the understanding of Arab communities to inform and inspire a more nuanced, inclusive approach to the study of the Arab diaspora. It does so by revealing untold stories that challenge stereotypes to push for more inclusive media representation of Arab identity and its development in various regions of the world.

This edited volume examines the many facets of contemporary Malaysia-India bilateral relations. The contributors provide analysis from the perspectives of trade and economic relations, people-to-people connections, tourism, security cooperation, ethnic identities, comparative religiosity, and revisiting the historical links between these countries.

"By examining the political discourse and social interactions that occur within six different political communities in Malaysia, this volume sheds light on how theories of political communication and social media play out on a granular level. Malaysia, with its interesting amalgam of democratic politics and intractable racial and religious divides, is ripe for a study of how online communication within different political and social groups actually works. With chapters on Malay, Islamic, Chinese, Indian, and Christian online communities, along with those of Sabah and Sarawak, this volume will be of interest to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how political interaction and digital discourse function on the ground in this important country in Southeast Asia." -- Janet Steele, Professor of Media and Public Affairs and International Affairs, George Washington University "Social media has emerged as a definitive tool for the production and dissemination of sociopolitical narratives that engender sweeping tides of change and transformation in our world today. This expertly and ably curated collection of essays helps us better understand this phenomenon as it has unfolded in Malaysia, where politics has undergone a sea change in recent years, and it is essential reading for those of us who are interested in the trajectory of Malaysian society and politics." -- Joseph Chinyong Liow, Tan Kah Kee Chair in Comparative and International Politics, Nanyang Technological University "This book is relevant not only for readers interested in Malaysian politics. The midsized Southeast Asian country offers a compelling case study for anyone thinking about online spaces and political participation in electoral democracies. Among regimes with autocratic tendencies, the Malaysian state was among the earliest adopters of an open internet—which for two decades seemed to do nothing to weaken the hegemony of its ruling party. More recently, in an age marked by democratic backsliding around the world, the country has shown potential to buck the trend. The backdrop of these developments is one of the world’s most culturally plural environments. This welcome volume looks at how various ethnic communities, communicating in each of the country’s major languages, have turned online spaces into the dominant arena for political contestation." -- Cherian George, author, Contentious Journalism and the Internet: Towards Democratic Discourse in Malaysia and Singapore (2006)

Singapore's success as a global city is in no small part attributable to its stance on foreign labour and immigrants, illustrated by a largely welcoming but discerning immigration regime to fulfil vital socio-economic needs. However, this fairly liberal policy on immigration has been met with substantial disquiet over the last decade. Xenophobic tendencies have surfaced periodically and have been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.This edited volume spotlights these contemporary issues on immigrant integration in Singapore, and adopts a functional approach by explicitly bridging academic and practitioner perspectives. The chapters are organised into three sections. The first section on Challenges discusses various dominant trends — obstacles to immigrant integration based on ethnicity, culture and religion, and the fear and associated emotions that characterise reactions to immigration. The second section focuses on Communities, their perspectives and lived experiences in Singapore society. The latter differ substantially depending on migrant statuses and are contingent on social capital defined in relation to locals in the city-state. The last section seeks to illustrate the various Solutioning endeavours in tandem with the contentious nature of immigration. These concrete efforts range from ground-up initiatives, community-based collaborative approaches and government programming; all seeking to advance immigrant integration in Singapore.

Discover the core dynamics of conflict through "Greed Versus Grievance," a pivotal book in the "Political Science" series. This work delves into how material incentives and ideological motivations drive conflict. It is essential reading for those looking to understand political violence and insurgency, offering an analysis of competing theories on the root causes of conflict within political systems. Chapter Overviews: 1. Greed vs. Grievance – Introduces economic and ideological conflict drivers. 2. Civil War – Examines how greed and grievance ignite civil wars. 3. Insurgency – Analyzes insurgent movements' material and ideological motives. 4. Insurgency in Balochistan – Case study of local grievances and economic conflict. 5. Opium in Afghanistan – Links the opium economy to ongoing conflict. 6. Sri Lankan Civil War Origins – Focuses on ethnic tensions and economic disparities. 7. Afghan Reconstruction – Highlights the influence of greed and grievance post-conflict. 8. History of the Taliban – Shows ideological zeal paired with economic interests. 9. Political Violence – Discusses forms of political violence tied to greed and grievance. 10. Afghan Peace Process – Studies peace efforts influenced by economic and ideological forces. 11. LTTE – Examines the rebellion's motivations and economic conditions. 12. Warlord – Explores personal greed and local grievances. 13. Taliban Regime (1996–2001) – Studies the blend of ideological goals and economic control. 14. Rebellion – Highlights ideological and economic drivers behind rebellions. 15. Afghanistan–Iran Relations – Analyzes their relationship through greed and grievance. 16. Paul Collier – Insight into Collier’s work on conflict economics. 17. Protracted Social Conflict – Explores long-lasting conflicts driven by grievances. 18. Sri Lanka’s History (1948–present) – Emphasizes greed and grievance in Sri Lankan conflict. 19. Afghanistan in 2011 – Reviews major events and conflict dynamics in 2011. 20. Anti-Pashtun Sentiment – Examines ethnic tensions and economic underpinnings. 21. Anke Hoeffler – Highlights her contributions to conflict economics. This book offers valuable insights for professionals, students, and enthusiasts. It deepens your understanding of how economic and ideological causes interplay in conflicts, making it a must-read addition to your collection.

Unlock the secrets of modern conflict with "Insurgency," a critical addition to the Political Science series. This guide, tailored for professionals, students, and enthusiasts, explores the interplay of power, strategy, and politics in insurgent movements. It offers deep insights into the dynamics of conflict and resolution in today’s global landscape. Chapters Overviews: 1: Insurgency - Explore insurgency’s definitions, evolution, and persistence. 2: Guerrilla Warfare - Learn insurgent tactics to counter superior forces. 3: Asymmetric Warfare - Analyze unequal power dynamics in warfare. 4: Paramilitary - Investigate paramilitary forces' roles in insurgencies. 5: Low-Intensity Conflict - Delve into prolonged conflicts with limited violence. 6: Unconventional Warfare - Discover strategies in unconventional warfare. 7: Counterinsurgency - Assess counterinsurgency strategies and their challenges. 8: Decapitation (Military Strategy) - Explore the strategy of targeting key leaders. 9: Fourth-Generation Warfare - Understand decentralized, non-state actor warfare. 10: Irregular Warfare - Examine diverse insurgent tactics in modern conflicts. 11: Police Action - Evaluate police action’s role in controlling insurgencies. 12: Iraqi Insurgency (2003–2006) - Analyze causes, strategies, and outcomes. 13: Colombia–United States Relations - Review counterinsurgency efforts in this relationship. 14: Steven Metz - Explore Steven Metz's insights into military strategy. 15: David Galula - Study David Galula's influential work on counterinsurgency. 16: David Kilcullen - Analyze Kilcullen’s innovative approaches to insurgency. 17: Foreign Internal Defense - Examine foreign support in internal conflicts. 18: McCormick Magic Diamond - Understand this framework’s role in insurgent strategies. 19: Guerrilla Warfare Tactics - Focus on practical strategies for guerrilla success. 20: Political Violence - Explore the link between political motives and violence. 21: Outline of War - Synthesize key themes, concluding with an overarching view of warfare. "Insurgency" offers a multifaceted examination of insurgent movements, providing readers with practical knowledge and strategic insights. This book is a valuable resource for those wishing to enhance their understanding of political conflicts and insurgency strategies.