Webinar: “Law and Religion Speaker Series – Power of Paper across the Indian Ocean,” National University of Singapore (Law)

Moderator: Dr Dian Shah, Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore (Law)

About The Speaker
Nurfadzilah Yahaya is an Assistant Professor of History at the National University of Singapore. Her book, Fluid Jurisdictions: Colonial Law and Arabs in Southeast Asia, published by Cornell University Press (forthcoming September 2020).

Abstract
The modern legal history of the Indian Ocean was built on paper. Wills, endowment deeds and powers of attorney mapped jurisdictions across the Indian Ocean from Southeast Asia to South Asia and further to the Middle East from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Attuned to the concentration of power across time and space, the Arab elite in the Indian Ocean became highly adept at strategies associated with legal pluralism brought on by colonialism in Southeast Asia. Some even attempted to establish a system of international law in the colonies by pledging allegiance to Ottoman rulers, placing themselves on par with European authorities. Jurisdictional vagueness led them to continually negotiate their rights as colonial subjects according to their exact location in the archipelago, level of socialization with indigenous societies, and relationships with colonial officials. Anchored by kinship obligations and commercial interests developed over several centuries, they carefully staked out their turf through joint intellectual collaborations and surveillance operations with colonial officials in the early twentieth century.

Notes:
1) Registration is on a first come first serve basis and a confirmation email will be sent after approval.
2) Online registration will close on Wednesday 10 June 2020, at 12 noon (SGT).
3) This live session will be recorded and footage may be used for publicity purposes.

Jun 11, 2020 03:30 PM in Singapore