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Since the 1980's, Asia has been witnessing the rise of a 'new spirit of capitalism', characterized by intricate assemblages of new religiosities, moral complexities and processes of economic modernization. Focusing on the emerging field of Islamic economy in Asia, this seminar explores the complex and negotiated interactions between globalizing religious and economic domains. Linking anthropological studies on Islam, capitalism, consumerism, religious commodification, and morality, the seminar aims to scrutinize how 'spiritual economies' and 'neoliberal piety' in Asia are embedded in and shaped by social, cultural and political contexts. Seminar readings will include case studies from Southeast Asia, South and Central Asia, as well as from China.
Learning goals:
- Analysing and reflecting the interactions between global capitalism, new Muslim identities/religiosities and moral orders
- Understanding and applying anthropological theories on capitalism, neoliberalism, consumerism, Muslim identity, middle-class, and the moral self
- developing new, comparative and multi-scale perspectives (local, trans-/national, global) in the study of Islamic economy
Teaching methods: reading literature, plenum discussions, input presentations, group work, writing critical reflection/response papers |
