Global Terrorism Research Centre
School of Political and Social Inquiry
Call for Papers
Radicalisation Crossing Borders: New Directions in Islamist and Jihadist
Political, Intellectual and Theological Thought and Practice
Dear Colleagues,
We are calling for papers for a conference that will address the political, theological and ideological
developments of Islamism and other emerging radicalisms, to be held in the Assembly Chamber of
Parliament House, Victoria on November 26 and 27, 2008. The conference seeks to generate new
understandings of the complexities of jihadist and other extremisms, and the role of violence and terrorism
by exploring the theological and ideological foundations of jihadist and other groups’ political tactics, as
well as the long-term objectives beyond terrorist activities. It is intended to investigate the geographic
contours of these groups’ political strategies. We also hope the conference will discuss the implications
these groups’ activities have for interfaith relations and security and governance within democratic states.
It is hoped that the outcomes of the conference will help to conceptualize Islamic activism and other
extremisms within time and space and, by implication, contribute to debates concerning relevant policy
responses.
The desired outcome of this international conference is the publication of an edited volume. It is hoped that
this will ultimately contribute to establishing a new and challenging framework for discussing jihadist and
other extremist movements within contemporary political science and international relations, as well as
other disciplines and sub-fields within Islamic studies, comparative religious studies, history, sociology and
anthropology and related areas. Therefore, we welcome participation from scholars from a broad range of
disciplines who are actively researching these topics.
The conference will advance the theme of ‘Crossing Borders of Cultural Meanings in the Asia Pacific
(Culture and Religion).’ However, we will also welcome contributions that address such issues that pertain
to other geographic areas. First, we encourage papers that will address themes of how religious, political
and other ideas transcend geographic borders and are localized. Second, by attempting to understand the
aforementioned process the conference will identify whether various Asia-Pacific based groups’
negotiations and interpretations of the meanings of these forms of thought constitute the development of a
global, regional or other culture within the broader Islamist and jihadist movements. Third, the conference
will also establish the extent to which groups in different countries within the Asia-Pacific region, with
different ideological perspectives or theological influences interpret current events, and sacred texts in
ways that produce cultural meanings at variance with those within the broader Islamist and jihadist
movements.
Global Terrorism Research Centre
Building H, 5th Floor Caulfield Campus,
900 Dandenong Road,
Caulfield East, VIC 3145, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9903 4306 Facsimile +61 3 9903 4686
CRICOS Provider No. 00008C ABN 12 377 614 012
www.monash.edu
1
In particular, we will be seeking contributions to panels that will address the following themes:

Jihadist Groups’ Ideologies and Their Theological Origins;

The Nature of al-Qa‘ida and other Jihadist Groups’ Threats, Their Geographic Contours
and Implications for International Relations;

Defining Political Islam, and New Directions in Political Islam;

How Islamic Political Thought can be used to contain Jihadist Groups’ Ideologies;

Methods of Financing and Recruitment;

The Rise of Anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world and its implications for
Radicalization and Recruitment tactics;

The Present Standpoint of Islamic Activism;

Emerging trends within al-Qa‘ida and other Jihadist Groups;

Islamists’ and Jihadists’ use of the media and propaganda;

The Regional Dimensions of Jihadist Activities;

Learning from other forms of terrorism and extremism: What knowledge can students of the
jihad movements gain from examining other political and theological militants’ processes of
radicalisation and de-radicalisation, and vice versa?
The organizers are actively encouraging early career researchers and postgraduate students to participate.
Most importantly, they will have at least one panel which will afford early career scholars and
postgraduates to present their research to an international audience. Additionally, the conference will
include a workshop that is specifically devoted to presenting methodologies, and techniques in
understanding radicalization, as well as the ethics of such research. Through such panels and workshops
early career researchers and postgraduate students will enhance their professional development and their
vocationally oriented research training.
The conference will be hosted by the Global Terrorism Research Centre (GTReC), Monash University,
with conference sponsors including the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University, and the
Australian Research Council Asia Pacific Futures Research Network, Islam Node. GTReC is Australia’s
first state government funded research centre entirely devoted to the study of terrorism, counter-terrorism,
and political violence, having received funding from the Victorian State Government in 2006 to examine
these areas of concern. Its members’ unique approach to understanding terrorism is grounded in a strong
understanding of the identity politics, cultural and global dynamics, and broader contexts of political
conflicts, as well as recognizing the importance of social cohesion within a broad ranging counter-terrorism
strategy. GTReC’s members have participated in partnerships or counter-terrorism forums that have
included the United Nations, coalition countries, various police services and local schools, civic and
religious groups.
Global Terrorism Research Centre
Building H, 5th Floor Caulfield Campus,
900 Dandenong Road,
Caulfield East, VIC 3145, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9903 4306 Facsimile +61 3 9903 4686
CRICOS Provider No. 00008C ABN 12 377 614 012
www.monash.edu
2
We strongly believe you would make an excellent and crucial contribution to the conference. We hope that
you will be interested in attending and participating. If so, we request that your abstracts for proposed
papers are submitted to us by Friday, 29 August. But if not, we would be very grateful indeed if you
could suggest others in your field who you believe might be interested. In any case, many thanks for your
valuable time! Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions regarding the conference panels
or our colleague Ela Ogru (Ela.Ogru@arts.monash.edu.au) for details on travel and accommodation.
Sincerely,
Dr Sayed Khatab (Sayed.Khatab@arts.monash.edu.au)
Research Fellow,
Global Terrorism Research Centre
& Dr Pete Lentini (Peter.Lentini@arts.monash.edu.au)
Director,
Global Terrorism Research Centre
Global Terrorism Research Centre
Building H, 5th Floor Caulfield Campus,
900 Dandenong Road,
Caulfield East, VIC 3145, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9903 4306 Facsimile +61 3 9903 4686
CRICOS Provider No. 00008C ABN 12 377 614 012
www.monash.edu
3