AAIMS Conference 2023

The Centre for Muslim States and Societies (CMSS) of the University of Western Australia are pleased to host the Fourth National Conference of Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies Inc. AAIMS’ Fourth National will be held on 21-22 November 2023 at the University of Western Australia, Perth.

AAIMS is Australia’s leading academic association for scholars engaged in research and the dissemination of knowledge about Islam and Muslim societies. The Association is interdisciplinary and fosters a network of academics based at Australian universities to generate opportunities for joint scholarly research across disciplines and institutions, disseminate research by its members, and promote national and international collaborations.

On behalf of the organising committee, we would like to open the first call for papers for the AAIMS’ Fourth National Conference in any area of Islamic and Muslim Studies within this year’s conference theme of ‘Islam in a Polarised World’ broadly understood. Current and prospective AAIMS members are strongly encouraged to apply to present their ongoing or recent research.

The central theme of ‘Islam in a Polarised World’ draws attention to the roles, contemporary place, and future of Islam in the emerging multipolarity in global politics with its accompanying shifting power relations and turbulences. It also draws attention to the multiple forms of cultural, political and religious ‘polarisations’ both in the local and global contexts and what these mean for not just peaceful co- existence but also Islam and Muslims in both Muslim majority and Muslim minority contexts. Hence the conference will explore, among others, the following sub-themes:

• The roles and place of Islam, Muslims, and Muslim states, in the emerging multipolarity in global politics
• Muslims in minority contexts, including Australia, in the backdrop of global multipolarity and polarisations
• Trends in polarisations in contemporary societies and their implications for Islam, Muslims, and Muslim states and societies
• The theological, ideological and discursive developments within Islam and Muslim societies in the context of polarisations and multipolarity
• Social media and polarisations
• The evolution of youth cultures in the context of current polarisations
• Women and other minority issues in the context of polarisations

These sub-themes are meant to be taken very broadly, and papers from different theoretical, methodological, disciplinary, and empirical backgrounds/perspectives are welcome.

The conference welcomes presentations by academics of all levels including early career researchers and PhD students. We will have specific sessions to support participants involved in Higher Degree Research and Early Career Academics (ECRs).

To submit an abstract, click here.

Conference conveners

Professor Samina Yasmeen AM CitWA, FAIIA, Director, CMSS, and Head of Department, DIRASP, UWA

Dr Azim Zahir, Research Fellow, CMSS and Lecturer, DIRASP, UWA

Conference will be presided by

Associate Professor Zuleyha Keskin President, AAIMS
Associate Head of School
Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC), Charles Sturt University

Organising committee

Professor Samina Yasmeen, University of Western Australia

Associate Professor Zuleyha Keskin, Charles Sturt University

Adjunct Professor Amin Saikal, University of Western Australia

Dr Jan Ali, Western Sydney University

Dr Azim Zahir, University of Western Australia

Dr Felix Pal, University of Western Australia

Professor Samuel Makinda, Murdoch University

Dr Ahmed Ibrahim, Edith Cowan University

Dr Jamal Barnes, Edith Cowan University