Sexualities, LGBT Rights and The Ban of ‘Gay’ Emoticons in Indonesia
While the emoticon debate itself seems rather trivial, the debates surrounding it are illustrative of the tensions between Islam and local practices.
Ansarullah Bangla Team: A Major Threat for Bangladesh’s Democracy
Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh poses the most dangerous challenge to the idea of a tolerant, secular democracy in a Muslim majority country.
A “Major Terrorist Event” Case Study: Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012
The Benghazi attacks ultimately assisted in the ongoing destabilisation of post-Gaddafi Libya, and advanced multiple extremist Islamist causes.
Middle Power Religion
Whilst the study of religion adds value to our understanding of world affairs, the opposite is also true: the concepts of IR add value to our understanding of religion
Out in the Open: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Execution of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr
The confrontation of Saudi Arabia and Iran remains a political battle of influence with a veneer of religious justifications and very secular interests at the heart.
Hassan al-Banna: A Starting Point for Contemporary Islamic Fundamentalism
Al-Banna’s ideas of Islam’s superiority, of his conception of Islam to others, and the monopoly of the absolute truth are the first steps to judge Others as unbelievers.
The Future of Islamic State Systems in Light of Rising Sectarian Tensions
Violence in the Islamic World is not principally attributable to religion, though its increasing salience fosters conditions for sectarian conflict.
Review – Boko Haram
This well-informed book explains the colonial legacy that shaped Boko Haram’s historical rise, what divides North and South Nigeria and Boko Haram’s impact on Africa.
Whose God? A Human Rights Approach
The modern international human rights regime offers an alternative to secularism because it establishes standards for both state neutrality and engagement with religion.
Sociotheology: The Significance of Religious Worldviews
Being empathetic is not the same as morally approving of violence but understanding that there can be a political and religious rationale behind ‘their’ violence.
