Johan Rasanayagam

Dr. Johan Rasanayagam serves as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Science at the University of Aberdeen, a position he has held since joining the department in 2005. His academic profile centers on anthropological engagements with Islamic thought, drawing from extensive fieldwork in Uzbekistan and Morocco to explore questions of morality, subjectivity, and religious experience in post-socialist contexts.

His primary research areas include the anthropology of Islam, morality and subjectivity, healing practices and spirit possession, and the dynamics of religion and secularism in Central Asia and North Africa. Rasanayagam has pioneered a post-secular anthropological approach that recognizes Islamic traditions as vital resources for understanding human experience, particularly in contexts of jinn possession and healing.

Examining his publication record, a clear trajectory emerges: sustained focus on Central Asia (especially Uzbekistan) and Morocco, with recurring themes of state-society relations, the politics of culture, and the interplay between Islamic traditions and modernity. His work consistently bridges empirical fieldwork with theoretical innovation, contributing to debates on secularism, ethics, and anthropological methodology.

Within the University of Aberdeen, Rasanayagam teaches core anthropology courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including Introduction to Anthropology, Anthropological Theory, and Religion, Power and Belief for the MSc Anthropological Research program. Although specific grant funding and student advising details are not documented in the provided materials, his teaching responsibilities demonstrate active contribution to the department's academic community.