Introductory description

This module analyses the patterns and characteristics of Islamic economies and their governance in Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on the region’s Muslim-majority countries. It investigates common and competing understandings of ‘market Islam’ and ‘civil Islam’; as well as of local and globalising Islamic economies. After briefly reviewing the history of Islam in the region and conceptualisations of state-society-Islam relations with an emphasis on their economic impact, the module will look at a number of topical issues such as halal certification regimes, Islamic finance and religious tourism.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1.Introduction: Islam in Southeast Asia
2.Islam in Southeast Asia - political economy perspectives
3.Indonesia and Malaysia: Islamic Leviathans
4.Islamic Finance
5.Halal Consumption
6. Reading Week
7.Modest Fashion and Halal Lifestyle
8.Pilgrimage and Muslim-friendly Travel
9.Islam in the Workplace
10.Conclusion: Identity Politics Meets Global Capitalism?

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the historical and contemporary development of Islam in the Southeast Asia region.
• Provide analytical accounts of the configuration of local and globalising Islamic economies in the Southeast Asia region.
• Demonstrate an awareness of how Islam affects and is affected by state and market relations in the Southeast Asia region.
• Demonstrate awareness of various aspects of the Islamic economy - flows of people, goods and money – and how they unfold and are governed in the Southeast Asia region.

Indicative reading list

see detailed reading list via Talis Aspire

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Research essay

Interdisciplinary

Political economy; Southeast Asian studies; Islamic economies

International

Focuses on Southeast Asia

Subject specific skills

Advanced understanding of the historical and contemporary development of Islam in the Southeast Asia region.
Ability to provide enhanced analytical accounts of the configuration of local and globalising Islamic economies in the Southeast Asia region.
Critical awareness of how Islam affects and is affected by state and market relations in the Southeast Asia region.
Improved knowledge of various aspects of the Islamic economy - flows of people, goods and money – and how they unfold and are governed in the Southeast Asia region.

Transferable skills

In this module, you will test and develop especially the following transferable skills:
The ability to apply the methods and techniques that you have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply your knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects --> including negotiate your own essay title and deliver your own essay project
The ability to synthesise ideas drawn from different disciplinary areas in order to understand and/or resolve real world problems --> indeed, studying the political economy of Islam is a highly interdisciplinary endeavour
The ability to recognize and be sensitive to diversity and new ways of thinking --> for example Islamic economic principles as they apply to various sectors of the economy