Dr Matthew J Nelson
BA (Bowdoin), PhD (Columbia)
Overview
Department of Politics and International Studies
Reader in Politics
Centre of South Asian Studies
Member, Centre of South Asian Studies
Centre for the Study of Pakistan
Member, Centre for the Study of Pakistan
Centre for the International Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice
Founding Member
London Middle East Institute (LMEI)
Member
- Name:
- Dr Matthew J Nelson
- Email address:
- mn6@soas.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- 020 7898 4742
- Address:
- SOAS, University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG - Building:
- Russell Square: College Buildings
- Office No:
- 218
- Office Hours:
- Thurs. 3.30-5.30
Biography
South Asia; Islam; democracy; mixed methodologies (historical, ethnographic, quantitative)Teaching
Programmes Convened
Courses Taught
- Approaches to Comparative Political Thought
- Government and politics of South Asia
- Government and politics of modern South Asia
- Islam & the Democratic Tradition
- Islam and democracy
- Pakistan: Politics, Law and Development
PhD Students supervised
- Alexander Evans,
- Brig. Gen. Frank Rusagara, Post Genocide Rwanda Military Intergration (MI): The case Study of Ingando
- Johann Chacko, Redefining Pakistan: Mapping Deobandi institutional responses to nationalism and the nation-state from Zia to Musharraf.
- Lucas Robinson, New cities, new phones, new politics: accounting for political legitimacy among transnational Afghans and Somalis
- Najia Mukhtar, Discourses of resistance? Examining spaces of religious tolerance in contemporary Pakistani society.
- Priyadarshini Singh, Nation at the Grassroots: The meanings of Indian nationhood and the role of political practices in its institutionalisation
- Sanaa Alimia, The Quest for Humanity in a Dehumanised State: Afghan Refugees and Devalued Citizens in Urban Pakistan 1978-2012
Research
South Asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India); Islam; Islamic law; Islamic institutions (courts, schools, etc.); institutional change; democratic theory; democratic practice
Expertise
For help in contacting SOAS academics and advice on services to business and the community, please contact SOAS Enterprise on +44(0)20 7898 4837 or email enterprise@soas.ac.uk.
For all press and media enquiries please call +44 (0)20 7898 4956/4135 or email comms@soas.ac.uk
Available for
- Briefings
- Special Study Programmes
- Short Term Consultancy
Regional Expertise
- South Asia
Country Expertise
- Pakistan
Languages
- Urdu
Publications
Authored Books
Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) In the Shadow of Shari‘ah: Islam, Islamic Law, and Democracy in Pakistan. New York: Columbia University Press; London: Hurst and Co.
Book Chapters
Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Inheritance Unbound: The Politics of Personal Law Reform in Pakistan and India.' In: Khilnani, S. and Raghavan, V. and Thiravengadam, A., (eds.), Comparative Constitutional Traditions in South Asia. Delhi: Oxford University Press. (Forthcoming)
Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Dealing with Difference: Religious Education and the Challenge of Democracy in Pakistan.' In: Merry, M.S. and Milligan, J.A., (eds.), Citizenship, Education, and Identity in Muslim Communities. London: Palgrave, pp. 103-123.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Muslims, Markets, and the Meaning of "A Good Education" in Pakistan.' In: Abbas, Tahir, (ed.), Islam and Education. Vol. 2. London: Routledge.
Nelson, Matthew J. 'Pakistan.' In: Countries at the Crossroads. New York: Freedom House. (Forthcoming)
Articles
Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) '“Faith” and “Development” in Secular and Religious Schools.' Comparative Education Review, 55 (1). 115-117, 129-131.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Embracing the Ummah: Student Politics beyond State Power in Pakistan.' Modern Asian Studies, 45 (3). pp. 565-596.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Persistent Legal Pluralism and the Challenge of Universal Human Rights.' Oxford Journal of Human Rights Practice, 2 (3). pp. 401-407.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Pakistan in 2009: Tackling the Taliban?' Asian Survey, 50 (1). pp. 112-126.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Pakistan in 2008: Moving Beyond Musharraf.' Asian Survey, 49 (1). pp. 16-27.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Dealing with Difference: Religious Education and the Challenge of Democracy in Pakistan.' Modern Asian Studies, 43 (2). pp. 591-618.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Religious Education in Non-Religious Schools: A Comparative Study of Pakistan and Bangladesh.' Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 46 (3). pp. 271-295.
Nelson, Matthew (2007) 'Who Speaks for Islam?: 'Authenticity' and the Interpretation of Islamic Law in America's War on Terror.' Australian Journal Of International Affairs, 61 (2). pp. 247-66.
Nelson, Matthew J. (2006) 'Madrasas and the Modern State: Religious Education and Religious Extremism in Pakistan.' RUSI Newsbrief, 26 (7). pp. 74-76.
Nelson , Matthew (2006) 'Muslims, Markets, and the Meaning of 'A Good Education' in Pakistan.' Asian Survey, 46 (5). pp. 699-720.
Monographs
Nelson , Matthew J. (2009) Campus Conflict, Party Politics, and the Secular State in Bangladesh. Project Report. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British High Commission (Dhaka). (Submitted)
Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) Religion, Politics, and the Modern University in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Project Report. Seattle: National Bureau of Asian Research.
Book Reviews
Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Review of Irfan Ahmad, 'Islam and Democracy in India: The Transformation of Jamaat-e-Islami'.' American Ethnologist, 38 (2).
Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Review of David Loyn, 'Butcher and Bolt: two hundred years of foreign engagement in Afghanistan'.' The Middle East in London, 6 (1).
Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Review of Vazira Fazila-Yaqoobali Zamindar, 'The Long Partition and the Making of Modern South Asia: Refugees, Boundaries, Histories'.' Asian Affairs, 39 (2).
Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Review of Srirupa Roy, 'Beyond Belief: India and the Politics of Postcolonial Nationalism'.' Asian Affairs, 39 (2).
Nelson, Matthew J. (2007) 'Review of Tariq Rahman, 'Denizens of Alien Worlds: A Study of Education, Inequality, and Polarization in Pakistan'.' South Asia Research, 27 (1).
Nelson , Matthew J. (2006) 'Review of Jan-Peter Hartung and Helmut Reifeld, 'Islamic Education, Diversity, and National Identity: Dini Madaris in India Post-9/11'.' South Asia Research, 26 (3).
Nelson, Matthew 'Review of Sir Hilary Synnott, 'Transforming Pakistan: Ways out of Instability'.' South Asia Research . (Forthcoming)
