description Robert Hefner Overview
Robert W. Hefner is an American anthropologist and professor at Boston University, specializing in the study of Islam and political culture. He is widely recognized for his extensive ethnographic research in Indonesia, focusing on the relationship between Muslim identity and democratization. His influential 2000 book, Civil Islam, examines the dynamics of Muslim politics and democratic transitions in Southeast Asia.
His scholarly contributions are essential for academics and students researching Indonesian politics, religious pluralism, and global Islam.
insights Ranking position
Robert Hefner ranks #150 of 304 in the Anthropologist ranking, behind Faye Ginsburg, ahead of Robert Redfield.
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What does anthropologist Robert Hefner study?
Robert W. Hefner is an American anthropologist who specializes in the study of Islam, political culture, and modernization. He is widely recognized for his extensive ethnographic research in Indonesia, focusing specifically on the relationship between Muslim identity, civil society, and democracy.
Where is Robert Hefner a professor?
Robert Hefner is a professor of anthropology at Boston University. He also directed the Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA) at the university, a prominent research center dedicated to studying religion's role in global public life.
What is Robert Hefner's view on Islam and democracy?
Hefner argues against the 'clash of civilizations' thesis, asserting that Islam and democratic governance are entirely compatible. Through his research in Indonesia in books like 'Civil Islam,' he demonstrates how Muslim civil society can successfully foster democratic transitions when given the right cultural and political conditions.
What regions did Robert Hefner conduct his early fieldwork in?
Before focusing heavily on national Indonesian Islam, Hefner conducted early ethnographic fieldwork in the Tengger highlands of East Java. He studied the complex inter-religious dynamics between the Hindu Tenggerese minority and the surrounding Muslim majority populations.
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