Theme: 5. Knowledge-making: Institutions, Objects, Cultural Ownership

Embedding Indian Ocean Studies: Rationales and Practicalities

Roundtable Convenor(s)

• MK

  Mahmood Kooria

  University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• TH

  Tom Hoogervorst

  Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian & Caribbean Studies (KITLV), Netherlands

Roundtable Chair(s)

• PP

  Philippe Peycam

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands

Roundtable Participant(s)

• LB

  Leon Buskens

  NIMAR, Morocco
• ES

  Eka Srimulyani

  Ar-Raniry State Islamic University, Indonesia
• SS

  Sebastian Schwecke

  Max Weber Stiftung India, India
• PM

  Pedro Machado

  Indiana University, United States
• CD

  Cut Dewi

  Syah Kuala University, Indonesia
• MS

  Mathew Senga

  University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• MI

  Maulana Ibrahim

  UN Khair, Indonesia

Roundtable Abstract:

This roundtable invites contributors from diverse institutions worldwide interested in the historical, geographical, environmental, religious, economic and cultural aspects of the ‘Indian Ocean’ and innovative ways to studying it collaboratively. Building on earlier conversations held in Surabaya (Indonesia) in 2024 and Zanzibar (Tanzania) in 2018, we now aim to establish a concrete platform of individuals, institutions and research centres from the Indian Ocean region and beyond. This roundtable represents the first step in appointing key collaborators and co-developing the agenda for the near future.

As the academic and public interest in the Indian Ocean is increasing and several institutions across the world are undertaking individual initiatives to study the region, we seek to ensure an effective participation of representatives from countries and regions located on the Indian Ocean coasts along with their other international colleagues. This inclusive platform could serve as an umbrella for centres and scholars with shared academic and intellectual interests to collaborate in multiple ways.

Once dominated by historians, Indian Ocean Studies has become an interdisciplinary space. Anthropologists, literary critics, natural scientists, scholars in botany, agriculture, urban studies and health practices, artists, craftspeople, community activists and even policy makers now take an active role in shaping research and policy applicable questions. The proposed platform can bring together these diverse strata of interests, facilitate meaningful conversations, and develop the idea of the Indian Ocean into an embedded laboratory for the future.

This new inter-disciplinary network transcends persistent divisions within Indian Ocean Studies including linguistic (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Malay) and geographic (Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Indian Ocean, Island Indian Ocean) boundaries, focusing instead on ways to foster collaborative academic and civic initiatives. Members are encouraged to co-develop academic and public awareness on ways to think, work, and write within a transregional Indian Ocean framework.

The primary beneficiaries of the platform should be institutions from the region as well as graduate students, early-career scholars, but also cultural and civic actors who are equally invested in the promotion of Indian Ocean as a holistic human and ecological continuum. The platform’s activities are envisioned to assist these diverse actors in identifying and formulating sustainable research and civic projects related to the Indian Ocean in the medium to long term. The networks we aim to establish and consolidate in this roundtable could create additional opportunities for collaborative work among regional organisations, institutes and universities.

Roundtable supported by: IIAS