In this assessment of the changing nature of relations between the two Islamic regions of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, von der Mehden investigates the degree to which a common religion has influenced economic ties. He further examines the extent of Southeast Asian political involvement in the Middle East and of Middle Eastern interest in Southeast Asia, and the character and amount of foreign religious thought reaching Muslims in Southeast Asia.

Acknowledgments p. vii Orthographic Note p. viii 1 Southeast Asia and the Middle East: Charting Directions Eric Tagliacozzo p. 1 I The Early Dimensions of Contact 2 Finding Java: Muslim Nomenclature of Insular Southeast Asia from Sþrvijaya to Snouck Hurgronje Michael Laffan p. 17 3 The Hajj, Islam, and Power among the Bugis in Early Colonial Riau Timothy P. Barnard p. 65 4 The Origins and Contributions of Early Arabs in Malaya Mohammad Redzuan Othman p. 83 II The Colonial Age 5 The Middle East Connection and Reform and Revival Movements among the Putihan in 19th-century Java M.C. Ricklefs p. 111 6 The Skeptic's Eye: Snouck Hurgronje and the Politics of Pilgrimage from the Indies Eric Tagliacozzo p. 135 7 Challenging Inequality in a Modern Islamic Idiom: Social Ferment amongst Arabs in Early 20th-century Java Sumit K. Mandal p. 156 8 Southeast Asian Debates and Middle Eastern Inspiration: European Dress in Minangkabau at the Beginning of the 20th Century Nico J.G. Kaptein p. 176 III The First Half of the 20th Century 9 Topics and Queries for a History of Arab Families and Inheritance in Southeast Asia: Some Preliminary Thoughts Michael Gilsenan p. 199 10 From Golden Youth in Arabia to Business Leaders in Singapore: Instructions of a Hadrami Patriarch Ulrike Freitag p. 235 11 M. Asad Shahab: A Portrait of an Indonesian Hadrami Who Bridged the Two Worlds Mona Abaza p. 250 IV Into Modernity 12 Jihad and the Specter of Transnational Islam in Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Comparative Historical Perspective John T. Sidel p. 275 13 Some Comparative Notes on Three Muslim Rebellion Movements in Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, and the Philippines) Moshe Yegar p. 319 14 Political Islam in Post-Soeharto Indonesia: The Contest between "Radical-Conservative Islam" and "Progressive-Liberal Islam" M. Syafi'i Anwar p. 349 Contributors p. 386 Index.

Carter and Ehteshami consider the significant geopolitical, economic and security links between the Middle East and the wider Asian world - links which are often overlooked when the Middle East is considered in isolation or in terms of its relations with the West, but which are of growing importance. Topics covered include Asia's overall geostrategic realities and the Middle East's place within them; relations between the Middle East and China, Russia, central Asia, southeast Asia and south Asia; Islam in central Asia and southeast Asia and the connections with the Middle East; and the important links between the Middle East and India and Pakistan's military and security establishments.

This book investigates the theme of global transitions with a cross-regional comparative study of two areas experiencing change over the past three decades: Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Political transitions in Asia have been the subject of interest in academic and policy-making communities recently as there are encouraging signs of democratization in countries that exhibit elements of authoritarianism. In those countries with relatively open political systems, transitions to democracy have been complete – albeit messy, flawed, and highly contested. In contrast, countries of the MENA region that have been gripped by revolts in recent years find themselves in the midst of chaotic and uncontrollable transitions. Why are there such differences between these regions? What, if anything, can be learned and applied from the transitions in Southeast Asia? These questions are answered here as Asia’s experience is contrasted with the Arab revolts and the struggle of the different countries in the MENA region to fashion a new social contract between states and citizens.

Includes chapters on: Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East. Each chapter describes: geography and climate; history and government; religion; education; rural, city, and family life; and arts, entertainment and recreation.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a miracle. Why?In an era of growing cultural pessimism, many thoughtful individuals believe that different civilisations-especially Islam and the West-cannot live together in peace. The ten countries of ASEAN provide a thriving counter-example of civilizational co-existence. Here 625m people live together in peace. This miracle was delivered by ASEAN.In an era of growing economic pessimism, where many young people believe that their lives will get worse in coming decades, Southeast Asia bubbles with optimism. In an era where many thinkers predict rising geopolitical competition and tension, ASEAN regularly brings together all the world's great powers.Stories of peace are told less frequently than stories of conflict and war. ASEAN's imperfections make better headlines than its achievements. But in the hands of thinker and writer Kishore Mahbubani, the good news story is also a provocation and a challenge to the rest of the world.This excellent book explains, in clear and simple terms, how and why ASEAN has become one of the most successful regional organizations in the world. - George YeoA powerful and passionate account of how, against all odds, ASEAN transformed the region and why Asia and the world need it even more today. - Amitav Acharya