Dietrich Reetz

Dietrich Reetz is an Associate Professor (Privatdozent) at the Department of Political Science at Free University Berlin's Otto Suhr Institute and a Senior Research Fellow at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO). He serves as a dissertation supervisor and Principal Investigator at the Berlin Graduate School of Muslim Cultures and Societies. His academic career spans several decades with significant contributions to understanding Islam in South Asia and its global connections.

Reetz's research focuses on Political Science, Islam in South Asia, Global Muslim Networking, and International Relations. His work examines religious and ethnic conflict, concepts of public sphere, globalization, and Islamic education systems. He has particular expertise in the Tablighi Jama'at movement, Deobandi educational networks, and the dynamics of Muslim communities across South Asia, Europe, and beyond.

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on transnational Islamic networks, with particular attention to how South Asian Islamic movements operate globally. His research demonstrates how local Islamic educational institutions connect with global networks while maintaining distinctive characteristics. The recurring themes across his work include religious mobility, transnational religious networks, Islamic educational institutions, and the adaptation of Islamic movements in diverse contexts.

• Global Muslim Networking and Transnational Religious Movements
• Islam in South Asia (particularly India and Pakistan)
• Muslim Communities in Europe
• International Relations and Religious Conflict
• Islamic Educational Institutions and Reform
• Political Islam and Religious Authority

Reetz has supervised numerous PhD students working on diverse topics related to Muslim communities across South Asia, Europe, and Africa. His academic journey includes significant research funding from German institutions, particularly the BMBF, and leadership roles in major research networks like 'Crossroads Asia' which examined South-Central Asian connections.