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The State and Religion in Southern Thailand: Between Co-optation and Resistance

Fri, March 17, 5:15 to 7:15pm, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Floor: 2nd Floor, Mackenzie

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the Muslim religious elites – the ulama – in Southern Thailand and the Thai state. While many authors have written about the dangers of Salafism in other regions of the world (Kepel, 2002), I posit that in Southern Thailand, the situation is more complex. The Salafi ulama, such as Dr. Ismail Lufti, are relied upon by the state to assist in defusing tensions between itself and the general populace. The wider implication of this study is uncovering the nuances in the dynamics between states and Muslim communities, especially the ulama. Ideological explanations – the violent ‘Salafi’ juxtaposed against the peace-loving ‘Sufi’ – are often inadequate in describing the intricacies of state-ulama relations. Numerous factors affect, and determine, the nature of this relationship: strength of the state, the state’s overall approach to Islam, ideological orientation of the ulama and their political beliefs, material and non-material considerations (such as the ability to spread one’s desired ‘version’ of Islam). Ideology is a factor, but by no means the only one, and should be understood in light of the other factors. For the purposes of this paper, empirical data will be drawn from both secondary sources and primary sources mainly from field interviews conducted with the ulama in Southern Thailand.

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