معرفی
Alicia M Turner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago Divinity School, alongside an MA in History of Religions and a BA in Religion and Women’s Studies. Her research focuses on the intersections of religion, colonialism, secularism, and nationalism in Southeast Asia, particularly in Myanmar/Burma. She examines Buddhist institutions and identities over the past 150 years, with emphasis on colonial-era transformations and contemporary religious dynamics.
Her major work includes the book Saving Buddhism: The Impermanence of Religion in Colonial Burma, which analyzes Buddhist lay associations and the fluidity of religious concepts. Current projects include a collaborative biography of U Dhammaloka, a 19th-century Irish-born Buddhist monk who resisted British colonialism, and studies on Buddhist secularism and religious tolerance in Myanmar.
Turner's professional leadership roles include serving as Editor of The Journal of Burma Studies (2007-2017), and active participation in academic organizations such as the Association of Asian Studies. She contributes to initiatives like the Inya Institute, focusing on Myanmar research and heritage.
Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, emphasizing how colonial frameworks shaped modern religious identities. Key themes include the role of Buddhism in nationalist movements, the impact of colonial secularism, and transnational religious networks.
