Dr Ameer Ali, Visiting Fellow/ Lecturer- Economics

B.A. Hons, 1964 (Ceylon)
M. Phil, 1970 (London School of Economics)
Ph.D. 1980 (University of Western Australia)

Murdoch Business School
Murdoch University
Tel: + 61 (08) 9360 2558
E-mail: A.Ali@murdoch.edu.au

Dr Ameer Ali is currently a Lecturer in Economics at the Murdoch Business School. A Visiting Fellow at the School since 2004, Dr. Ali has previously been a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the Universities of Brunei Darussalam and Western Australia, and was formerly a Lecturer in Economics at Murdoch University (1980-86). He is a graduate of the University of Ceylon, the University of Western Australia, and the London School of Economics. A widely-published academic writer, Dr. Ali has a special interest in the economic and socio-economic development of Islamic societies, in contemporary relationships between Islam and politics, and in the Muslim diasporas in Australia and the West. He is the author of From Penury to Plenty: Development of Oil Rich Brunei, 1906 to Present (1996), and since 1999 has been an Associate editor of the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. Ameer Ali is a former President (2002-2006) of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and Chairman of Prime Minister’s Muslim Community Group, and is the current Vice-President of the Regional Islamic Dawa Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP).

Key Publications & Research

Research Interests:

Economic Development in Islamic Societies
Contemporary Islamic Society
Muslim Minorities and the Muslim Diaspora

Publications:

Refereed Articles and Publications in Academic Journals

Peasant Coffee in Ceylon in 19th Century, Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies, vol.2, no.2, 1972
The Peasantry and Coffee Culture (in Tamil), Cintanai, vol.5, January-July, 1972
Changing conditions and persisting problems in the peasant sector of Ceylon, Ceylon Studies Seminar, 1970 - 72 Series
Cinchona Cultivation in 19th Century Ceylon, Modern Ceylon Studies, vol.5, no.3, 1974
Some aspects of the Economic History and Position of the Muslims in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Muslim Development Fund Souvenir, 1976
Islam: An Alternative Approach to Economic Development, Papers and Proceedings of the Islamic Cultural Studies Conference, vol. 1, Brisbane, Australia, 1979
“Rice and irrigation in 19th Century Sri Lanka”, Ceylon Historical Journal, vol.25: 1-4, 1978
“Thoughts on Islamic Economics”, The Muslim vol. XVI, no.4, July-October, 1980
The 1915 Racial Riots in Ceylon (Sri Lanka): A Reappraisal of its Causes, South Asia, vol.IV, no.2, 1981
The Genesis of the Muslim Community in Ceylon: A Historical Summary, Asian Studies,
“Islamic Revivalism in Harmony and Conflict: The Experience in Sri Lanka and Malaysia”, Asian Survey, vol.24, March 1984
“Phases of Capitalism in Malaysia: A profile of her Political Economy”, Asian Thought and Society, vol.9, nos. 26-27, 1984
“Muslims and Sri Lanka’s Ethnic Troubles”, The Muslim World League Journal, vol.11, nos. 11-12, 1984
“Muslims and the Export Sector of Sri Lanka”, Muslims of Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1985
“Politics of Survival: Past Strategies and Present Predicament of the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka”, Journal Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs (JIMMA), vol.7, no.1, 1986
Muslims and Capitalism in British Ceylon: The Colonial Image and Community’s Behaviour, JIMMA, vol.8, no.2, 1987
“Pakistan Society: Islam, Ethnicity, and Leadership in South Asia”, (a review article), JIMMA, vol.8, no.1, 1987
“The Contemporary Muslim Movement in the Philippines”, (a review article), JIMMA, vol.9, no.1, 1988
“Reflections on Islamic Economics and the Economic Concepts of Ibn Taimiyah”, JIMMA, vol.10, no.1, 1989
“Distorted Imagination: Lessons from the Rushdie Affair” (a review article), JIMMA, vol.XII, no.1, January 1991
“Identity and Material Advancement”, JIMMA, vol.XII, no.1, January 1992
“Industrialisation or Industries? The Vision and the Viability in Brunei Darussalam”, Sumbangsih, Sultan’s Silver Jubilee Publication, January 1993
“Voluntary Investment in Human Capital and Upliftment of Muslim Minorities: An Indo-Sri Lankan Focus”, Journal of Objective Studies, vol.5, no.2, July 1993
“Investment in Human Resource Development: An Escape Route for Trapped Minorities” JIMMA, vol.14, no.1&2, Jan-July 1993
“Religio-Cultural Identity and Socio-Economic Development in the Muslim World”, The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, vol.12, no.3, 1995
“Islam and Politics in Contemporary Muslim World: A Review Essay”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, vol.16, no.1, 1996.
“Brunei Darussalam: An Oily Economy in Search of an Alternative Path” Asian Profile, August 1997.
“The Muslim Factor in the Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, vol.17, no.2, October 1997.
“The Schumpeterian Gap and Muslim Economic Thought”, Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, vol.10, no.10, 1999.
“Islamism: Emancipation, Protest and Identity”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, vol. 20, no.1, 2000.
“Government + LTTE – Muslims = Intifada: The Cruel Equation in Sri Lankan Peace Process”, Polity, vol.1 No. 1, February-March 2003.
“The Muslims of Sri Lanka: an ethnic minority trapped in a political quagmire”, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, volume 5, number 3,2004.
“Tabligh Jamaat and Hizbul Tahrir: Divergent Paths to Convergent Goals: Education to Counter Extremism”, Dialogue & Alliance, vol. 20, no. 2, 2006.
“Education to Counter Extremism”, Directions in Education, Australian Council for Educational Leaders, vol. 16, no. 19, October 2007.
“The Closing of the Muslim Mind” JIMMA, 27:3, December 2007
“The State, the Mosque, and the Masses: Discordant Discourses in the Muslim World”, Dialogue & Alliance, vol.21 no.1, 2007

Books and Monographs

From Penury to Plenty: Development of Oil Rich Brunei, 1906 to Present , Murdoch University, Department of Economics Research Monograph Series 2, 1996.

Chapters in Edited Volumes

“Plural Identities and Political Choices for the Muslim Community”, A History of EthnicConflict in Sri Lanka: Recollection, Reinterpretation & Reconciliation. Marga Institute, Colombo 2001.
“Globalization and Greed: A Muslim Perspective” in Paul F. Knitter & Chandra Muzaffar (eds) Subverting Greed, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books 2002, pp.137-153
“The Muslim Diaspora in the West: The Challenges from an Australian Perspective”, in Diaspora The Australian Experience, edited by Cynthia vanden Driesen and Ralph Crane, New Delhi: Prestige Books, 2006, pp. 119-130.

Papers presented at International Conferences (selected list)

“Muslims and the Export Sector of Sri Lanka” Conference on Muslims of Sri Lanka, Naleemiya Institute, Sri Lanka, 1985
“The Quest for Cultural Identity and Socio-economic Advancement: Parallels and Contrasts in Minority Experience in South Asia”, Muslim Minority/Majority Relations Conference, City University, New York, October 1989
“Working Women and their Wealth Related Health Problems in Brunei Darussalam” Industrialisation and Women’s Health: A regional Workshop for the ASEAN Countries, Singapore, April 1992
“Human Capital Formation and Survival of Muslim Minorities”, - Conference on Muslim Education, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, April 1993
“Reconciling the Quest for Religio-Cultural Identity and Socio-economic Development”, International Conference on Comprehensive Development of Muslim Countries, International University, Kuala Lumpur, August 1994
“Pedagogy for a Plural Society: A Muslim Perspective”, paper presented at the colloquium on Managing Christian –Muslim Relations, February 2004 in Monash Univeristy, Melbourne
“Islam and Globalization: thesis, antithesis and synthesis”, International Islamic Conference, Jakarta, 2004.
“Muslim Diaspora in the West: An Australian Perspective”, Third International ASAA Conference, Kerala, South India, July 2004.
“Improving the Dialogue: A Muslim Community Perspective” paper presented at Security in Government Conference, Canberra, May 9-11, 2006.
“Interfaith Dialogue: The Australian Context” paper presented at the Peace and harmony conference in Singapore on 1 st-3 rd September 2006
“Islamic Culture or Muslim Cultures: Missing Pieces in the Australian Cultural Kaleidoscope”. Keynote address delivered at the Symposium on Islamic Culture in Adelaide, May 2008.
“Peace Building and Conflict Prevention through Interfaith Dialogue: The Australian Experience”, paper presented at the Nahdatul Ulema Conference, Jakarta, 28 July- 1 Aug. 2008
“Freedom of Religion in ‘Islamic Australia’, paper to be presented at the conference on International Protection of religious Freedom: National Implementation, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, October 5-8 2008.
“Kattankudy: A Mullah-Merchant Urban Complex in Eastern Sri Lanka Caught between Islamist Factionalism and Ethno-economic Nationalisms”, paper to be presented at the Fourth Conference of Association for the Study of Australasia in Asia, 2 -5 December 2008, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Teaching

Units Taught

Dr Ameer Ali is the Unit Coordinator for:

MBS531 Economics of Globalisation

MBS593 Chinese Economy

University and Community Service

Dr Ali is a former Vice-President (1999-2002) and President (2002-2006) of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, and is currently the Vice-President of the Regional Islamic Dawa Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP). In 2006 he was Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Muslim Community Group, holding this post when the Group’s Action Plan was published by the government, and was a Member of the Coordinating Committee of the World Muslim League Makka, Saudi Arabia, in the same year. Dr Ali has held teaching, research and administrative posts at the London School of Economics, the Universities of Ceylon and Western Australia, Murdoch University, W.A.I.T. and Churchlands C.A.E, has served as Warden of Akbar-Nell Student Residence Hall (1970-75) in Sri Lanka and as Resident Tutor of Currie Hall (1978) in Perth, has been a Chief Examiner in Economics for G.C.E. Advanced Level in Sri Lanka and an Examiner for TEE Economics in Western Australia, and an Academic Adviser to the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

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