I am currently working on my second book project, which I have tentatively titled ‘humanitarian confessions.’ Essentially, I am interested – as an anthropologist – in analyzing humanitarian autobiographies and memoirs as ethnographic texts. My fascination in these books is born out of my long-time research into the intersections on religion and development. The thing that fascinates me about autobiographies is that the genre enables – indeed, it seems to require – an investigation of interior, emotional worlds. Whereas the academic literature on development has often struggled to engage with questions of religion and romance, autobiographical stories center these elements. The tensions of a faith-doubt dialectic – whether this is about god, spirituality, a lover, or ‘humanity’ – are what animate autobiographical narratives, as the narrators explore questions of motivation and divulge juicy details of their lives. Encounters with the religion(s) of others are also frequently narrated in these books alongside the author’s response, whether that is desire, intrigue, or disgust. These ‘confessions’ therefore allow for analysis of issues that are frequently bracketed out in other kinds of scholarly literature. At CSEAS I am especially interested in investigating humanitarian autobiographies that engage with Southeast Asia.

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The main challenge I face in publishing research is time. I find my life as an academic to be very time-poor. This is, if I am honest, something of a sadness for me, but I also know that it is a reality which is very familiar to academics across all disciplines in the contemporary university. The key challenge, therefore, is to conjure and construct temporalities that allow for bona fide thinking. It would be naïve to assume that this is simply a matter of herculean effort on behalf of the scholar herself. This is about structures, processes, economics and resources, and politics. But at the same time, it is of no use to merely resign oneself in the face of external obstacles. Most of my advice here is to do what I haven’t generally managed to do: limit the time you spend on email, allow yourself space to work on your own research and consider this time both worthwhile and important, don’t be subjected to the tyranny of the urgent, and learn how to say no.

I would also add that you should do all you can to create structures and patterns that allow space for thinking outside of just extractive and instrumentalist approaches to publishing the next paper. I have found that organized and regular reading groups – whether these are arranged informally or with institutional support – to be particularly valuable over the years. Reading widely and beyond your usual interests is becoming increasingly difficult. But it remains a core scholarly discipline – one that is enormously productive – to read and to actively think through other’s arguments. So, my advice is form or join a reading group today!

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In no particular order, and perhaps illustrating the eclecticism of my research interests more than anything else, here are five books I would recommend whole-heartedly:

Barnett, Michael. 2011. Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism. Cornell University Press.
This is a big picture analysis of humanitarianism in the longue durée. Barnett finds that religion is everywhere in humanitarian history, and so too is politics. It is also delightfully readable.

Benthall, Jonathan and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan. 2003. The Charitable Crescent: Politics of Aid in the Muslim World. I.B. Tauris.
I work mostly on Christianity, but I find it so helpful and productive for my work to think about religion comparatively. This book is a careful and nuanced scholarly exploration of the complex relationships between humanitarian aid and Muslim societies. The chapter on the history of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is brilliant.

Luhrmann, Tanya. 2012. When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. Vintage Books.
I am a huge fan of the anthropology of Christianity as it has emerged over the past decade or so. This book is one of the most readable and enjoyable studies in this field. Luhrmann’s narrative ethnography is outstanding and her insights are profound.

Furani, Khaled. 2019. Redeeming Anthropology: A Theological Critique of a Modern Science. Oxford University Press.
Furani’s study of the fraught relationships between anthropology and theology is compelling reading for all social scientists. He locates tensions with religion at the heart of anthropology and he invites a critical re-consideration about how research should be conducted into the future.

Feener, Michael. 2013. Shari’a and Social Engineering: The Implementation of Islamic Law in Contemporary Aceh, Indonesia. Oxford University Press.
Feener’s analysis of disaster reconstruction in Aceh following the Indian Ocean Tsunami is a brilliant and incisive investigation into the ways in which religious and humanitarian visions to ‘build back better’ folded into each other. This brilliant book is essential reading for all students of humanitarianism.

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I don’t think there is one model of how to be a good researcher but most of the brilliant researchers I have known share some attributes or habits in common. They are deeply inquisitive people who incessantly ask questions. They read widely, in and beyond their chosen field. They are not slavishly committed to the latest academic trends, but carve out questions that are of deep and perennial value. They know how to organize their files, notes, readings, and thoughts so that these become available for analysis. This last one is a particular struggle of mine!

My advice for budding researchers is to undertake research that you find genuinely interesting, compelling, and important. Scholars sometimes feel the need to be highly strategic about choosing topics, arranging supervision, or anticipating emerging ‘hot’ topics. But pleasure and enjoyment should come first.

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CSEAS has a really strong reputation globally as one of the most impressive centers for research on Southeast Asian Studies. I have wanted to visit CSEAS for years and it is such a privilege to be able to spend three months here in the company of outstanding academic colleagues. My children also really love eating Japanese food, and when we thought about where in the world we would most like to spend some time at Japan was right at the top of the priority list. Plus Kyoto is such a beautiful, multi-layered, complex, gorgeous city. I am sure every anthropologist of religion dreams of spending time in an ancient-modern city which has over 1400 temples and shrines!

My expectations while being at CSEAS are mostly concerned with creating space and time to think and write. But I am also hoping to eat lots of tasty food and to enjoy the company of new and old friends.

 (December 2024)