Dr Jan Ali

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Publications
• Professional Affiliations
  
• Contact Details

Biography

My expertise lies in the field of sociology of religion – Islam. I am particularly interested in the contemporary phenomenon of Islamic Revivalism. In particular, my major work on this topic involved an ethnographic study of the world’s largest Islamic revivalist movement called the Tablighi Jama’at (Preaching Party). The essence of my argument regarding the contemporary phenomenon of Islamic revivalism is that it is not anti-modernity as is often claimed in popular discourse but a direct response to the failures of modernity.

^ Back to top

Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

My other expertise/research interests are as follows: Sociology of Migration, Identity, Diaspora Communities and Transnationalism, Social and Religious Movements, Islam and Modernity, Globalisation and Modernity, Cross-Cultural Communication, Research Methodology, and Homelessness.

As for teaching expertise and experience I have taught the following courses in the last ten years: Cross-Cultural Communication, Communication Research Methodologies, Social Policy, Islam in the Modern World, Contemporary Islam: Religion and Identity, Religion and Politics in Contemporary Society, Contemporary Society, Global Poverty and Development, Introduction to Sociology, Qualitative Health and Social Research, Cultural Identities, Introduction to Globalisation, Globalisation and Fragmentation, Sociological Theory and Methodology, and Study of Society.

^ Back to top

Grants / Current Projects

My last research project entitled "Muslim Australians and Local Government: Grassroots Strategies to Improve Relations Between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians" was an investigation into the most effective community-based activities for improving relations between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians. It was undertaken in the Centre for Research on Social Inclusion at Macquarie University and was funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Earlier, I was involved in a research project entitled “Homelessness: The City of Sydney Experience” which investigated the phenomenon of homelessness and its causes particularly in Sydney. This project was funded by the City of Sydney Local Government.

^ Back to top

Publications

Books

• Ali, J. (2009) [Forthcoming] “Islamic Revivalism and the Tablighi Jama’at in the Contemporary World”, London: New Dawn Press.

Refereed Journal Articles.

• Ali, J. (2008) “The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research”, NEXUS, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 18-20.

• Ali, J. (2004) “Islam and Muslims in Fiji”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 141-154.

• Ali, J. (2003) “Islamic Revivalism: The Case of the Tablighi Jamaat”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs Vol. 23, No.1, pp. 173-181.

• Ali, J. (2001) “Sleeping Rough: A Participant Observer’s View of Homelessness in Sydney”, Australian Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Analysis, Vol. 73, Issue 4, pp. 9-11.

Conference Reports.

• Ali, J. (2008) “Muslim Citizens in the West: Promoting Social Inclusion”, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Vol. 25. No. 1, pp. 154-156.

Monographs.

• Wise, A. and Ali, J. (2007) “Muslim-Australians and Local Government: Grassroots Strategies to Improve Relations Between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians”, Sydney: Department of Immigration and Citizenship and Centre for Research on Social Inclusion - Macq. Uni.

• Ali, J. (2001) “Homelessness: The City of Sydney Experience”, Sydney: Independent Community Living Association Inc.

^ Back to top

Professional Affiliations

• The Australian Sociological Association.

• Arab Council Australia Inc.

• Reviewer for The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences.

^ Back to top