Second Annual Conference of the “ASEAN Muslim Social Scientists’ Forum” Muharram 20-23, 1409/September 1-4, 1988

Abstract

The Muslim Social Science Scholars’ Forum of ASEAN (Association
of Southeast Asian Nations) held its Second Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand
from Mubrram 20-23, 1409lSeptember 1-4, 1988, under the auspices of the
Foundation for Democracy and Development Studies. The theme for the
meeting was “Muslim Scholars and Social Science Research,” aimed at
documenting, discussing and analyzing the types of scholarship or research
that have been done about Muslims in the Southeast Asian region, particularly
within the ASEAN countries.
A select group of Muslim social science scholars (together with some
Muslim politicians) from the countries within ASEAN, except Brunei, were
invited to the “Forum.” They included: Drs. Dawan Raharjo and Nurcholis
Majid, and Professor Moeslim (Indonesia), Drs. Surin Pitsuwan, Senee
Madmarn and Chaiwat (Thailand), Drs. Yusof Talib and Hussain Mutalib
(Singapore), Professors Taib Osman and Wan Hashim and Umar Farouq
(Malaysia), and Drs. Carmen Abubakar, Madale and Mastura (Philippines).
All participants were either presenters of papers or discussants.
Throughout the four-day deliberations, participants discussed the types
of studies and research that have been the focus of scholars studying Muslim
communities in the ASEAN region. Some titles of papers included: “Muslim
Studies in the Phillipines;” “Social Science Research in Thailand;” and “Social
Science Research in Malaysia: the Case of Islamic Resurgence.”
Given the “closed-door” ‘nature of the meeting (participation was by
invitation only), there was adequate time for a more intensive, frank and
thorough discussions of the papers. Problems and issues were aired and posed,
and alternative options offered by participants. For every paper, there was
a discussant; hence, the issues that came out of the papers managed to be
seen, discussed and appreciated from a more complete and balanced
perspective.
By and large, the Bangkok meeting was a successful one. The
approximately twenty participants were generally pleased with the high quality
of papers presented and the sense of brotherhood that prevailed. The warm
hospitality of the hosts from Thailand was also appreciated ...