Islamic Perspectives on the New Millennium

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

"For two decades now, Stephen C. Headley has been one of the most original and systematic ethnographers of Javanese religion and cultural history. No one in contemporary Javanese ethnography has combed through the annals of nineteenth and twentieth century scholarship with as careful an eye for the variety of Javanese traditions. None combines this historical ethnography with as careful and unusual body of contemporary ethnography. Headley's new book brings these long-developed skills to bear on contemporary religious change in the Surakarta region of Central Java. In his analysis of the Durga ritual complex, Headley sheds light on one of the most unusual court traditions to have survived in an era of deepening Islamization. Headley's analysis of this ritual complex, and its implications for our understanding of popular Javanese religion, deserves to be read by all serious students of Java, as well as anyone interested in religion in Indonesia. However, Headley moves well beyond this unusual ritual complex, to take us through the twists and turns of religious culture and politics in what is one of the richest but also most troubled of cultural regions in Java. The result is a rich, multi-layered, and fascinating study, one that changes forever our understanding of Javanese tradition in a Java becoming Islamic." Robert Hefner, Institute on Religion and World Affairs, Boston University.

Durga's Mosque: Cosmology, Conversion and Community in Central Javanese Islam

Headley, Stephen Cavana

What is being done to counter threats of maritime terrorism and how effective are the safeguards? The author presents evidence that Al-Qaeda aims to disrupt the seaborne trading system, the backbone of the model global economy, and would use a crude nuclear explosive device or radiological bomb to do so if it could obtain one and position it to go off in a port-city, shipping strait or waterway that plays a key role in international trade. Improving maritime trade is especially important for the US and Canada, member states of the EU, Australia and New Zealand and for China, Japan and South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and other East Asian economies that have extensive direct seaborne trade. It is doubly vital for places like Singapore, Hong Kong and Rotterdam that are not only very large global seaports but also giant giant container transshipment hubs. This book discusses some major threats to seaborne trade and its land links in the global supply chain, their potential impact and the new security measures in place or pending for ships, ports and cargo containers, and recommendations for preventing or handling a catastrophic terrorist attack designed to disrupt world trade.

A Time Bomb for Global Trade: Maritime-Related Terrorism in an Age of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Politics & Social Sciences

Richardson, Dr Michael

Social Sciences

Regional Security in Southeast Asia: Beyond the Asean Way

<p>The book examines ASEAN's mechanisms in managing challenges and threats to regional security. Its extensive analyses of the ASEAN story of managing regional security cover the different phases of ASEAN's development as a regional organization and explore the perceptible changes that have occurred in regional mechanisms of conflict management. The book also examines the roles of relevant actors beyond the states of ASEAN and the key interactions that have evolved over time, which have been instrumental in moving regional mechanisms beyond the ASEAN way. The book argues that the ASEAN way has not been impervious to change. As the Association finds its way through periods of crises and continues to confront the many challenges ahead, ASEAN and its mechanisms are already being transformed beyond the narrow confines of the modalities associated with the ASEAN way. The changes in the political and security landscape of the region, as well as the democratic transitions taking place in some member states, have set the stage for a much more dynamic set of regional actors and processes that bring into question the kind of regionalism that is now taking place in the region. This book therefore attempts to capture these evolving dynamics and examines the way regionalism is changing in Southeast Asia.</p>

Regional Security in Southeast Asia: Beyond the ASEAN Way

Anthony, Mely Caballero

Politics & Government

Mind the GAPS: Singapore Business in China

China burst onto the world stage in the mid-1980s and in the past decade has been transformed into a giant magnet for FDI, attracting capital from all over the world. Everyone wants a piece of the China action. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the region of Southeast Asia, tucked as it is geographically beneath China's southern flank. Much of the FDI inflow into China has been at the expense of Southeast Asia. But this has been offset by new opportunities created through China's rapid economic expansion. This book provides an insightful and objective analysis on how to be successful in China, especially for Singapore businessmen. The authors have eloquently distilled several important lessons that have become apparent for business success in China.

Mind the Gaps: Singapore Business in China

Business & Money

Kumar, Sree

Siddique, Sharon

Wong, Yuwa Hedrick

Economics

International Migration in Southeast Asia

Population mobility increases with economic development and globalization. The migration of people affects countries in many ways -- socially, economically and politically. However, there are fundamental tensions in efforts to manage international migration in a globalizing world. On the one hand, business is transnational as it necessitates the unrestricted flow of people internationally. On the other hand, politics is still national. In an integrated world economy, trade, flow of capital, flow of labour, flow of raw materials and technology are inter-related. This study therefore examines international migration in the context of an integrated world economy. Specifically, it looks at the history of migration in modern Southeast Asia; investments, remittances and welfare; the vulnerability of workers; national migration policies; and the problem of irregular migrants.

Islam in Southeast Asia: Political, Social and Strategic Challenges for the 21st Century

This book looks at Islam and its strategic implications for Southeast Asia. Part I outlines Islamic doctrine and traces the history and growth of Islamic economic institutions in the region. In Part II, politics, governance, civil society and gender issues are examined in the context of Southeast Asian Islam. Part III devotes itself to the impact of modernization and globalization on Muslim society. Part IV examines and evaluates the impact of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the icons of the American superpower. The Conclusion offers some perspectives on the challenges and prospects for Islamic doctrine and practice in the context of Southeast Asia.

<p>The relations between ASEAN and China occupy a unique and important position in the foreign relations of the Asia-Pacific region. China and Southeast Asia's political, strategic and economic importance in the realm of international relations has been transformed by the region's unprecedented economic growth, unexpected financial crisis, and turbulent political changes. This volume investigates the impacts of global changes and regional challenges confronting the contemporary developments of China-ASEAN relations. Topics include: changes in strategic perceptions, the economic challenges and legal considerations of the China-ASEAN FTA in the context of a multilateral trading system, the role of "East Asia", non-traditional security issues, prospects of regionalism, China-Taiwan-ASEAN triangular relations, and Malaysia's and Singapore's diplomatic engagement with China. It offers authoritative arguments and a rich collection of ideas for policy-makers and interested readers to mull over.</p>

China and Southeast Asia: Global Changes and Regional Challenges

Seeking to look beyond the day-to-day headlines and judgemental comments on developments in Myanmar, this volume gets under the surface to look at the underlying issues which the country faces regardless of its political future. After looking back to essay the historical forces and human agencies which have shaped contemporary Myanmar, the volume addresses health care and public policy provision with suggestions as to what potential roles the international community might have in assisting Myanmar's future socioeconomic development. Myanmar: Beyond Politics to Societal Imperatives broadens the debate on this state of more than 50 million people beyond the usual narrow didactics about democratization and economic policies.

Myanmar: Beyond Politics to Societal Imperatives

Arts & Photography

Southeast Asian Affairs 2005

History

Asia

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Books by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute