This book is a revised version of the proceedings of the Conference on “Islam in Southeast Asia: Political, Social, and Strategic Challenges for the 21st Century” held at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore on 2–3 September 2002. To the extent possible, all chapters have been revised and updated to include recent developments that highlight the role, relevance and challenges, as well as the political and strategic dimensions of Islam in contemporary Southeast Asia.

In producing this special volume, we wish to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to several individuals whose support, assistance and co-operation have in no small measure contributed to the materialization of this publication. Firstly, the former ISEAS Director, Professor Chia Siow Yue who played a key role in initiating the idea of this seminar, and Mr. K. Kesavapany, the present Director whose enthusiastic commitment has enabled the final stages of editing and publication to proceed without a hitch. Our thanks are also due to the valiant efforts of three Research Associates whose editorial assistance has been crucial to the completion of this project: Ravi A. Menon, Graham Gerard Ong, and S. Thyaga Rajan. In the final stages, Thyaga worked very diligently with both of us in tying up loose ends and in improving the technical quality of the final drafts.

We wish to thank all the contributors for their fine papers and their full co-operation in responding promptly to requests for chapter revisions. We are also grateful to Mrs. Triena Ong, Head of the Publications Unit in ISEAS for providing valuable suggestions and handling production and marketing of this book, Ms Ch'ng Kim See and staff of the ISEAS Library for extending research support, and Mrs. Y.L. Lee and her staff in the Administration for their kind assistance.