Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Near Eastern and East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and an affiliated researcher with the SDAC program. He serves as a Part-Time Lecturer teaching 'Anthropology of Islam' at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg since November 2019. Dr. Abdul Aziz is also a member of the DFG-funded Emmy Noether Research Group 'The Bureaucratization of Islam and its Socio-Legal Dimensions in Southeast Asia' under Prof. Dr. Dominik Müller and maintains an affiliation with the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle (Saale).

His research focuses on the Anthropology of Bureaucracy, Anthropology of Islam-Muslims, Asian Studies, Islam in Southeast Asia, Islamic Studies, Political Economy in Malaysia, Philippine Studies, and Political Anthropology. His doctoral work investigates the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), examining how this government body bureaucratizes discourse on Islam and Muslims, particularly through the governance and development of the halal food industry in the Philippines.

Dr. Abdul Aziz's publications reflect his expertise in Southeast Asian Islamic institutions, political economy, and governance. His recent work includes encyclopedia entries on Malaysian Islamic institutions, research reports on trade policy and socioeconomic development in Malaysia, and articles analyzing investment treaties, climate negotiations, and energy policy. His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of religion, governance, and political economy in Southeast Asia.

• Award-winning MA thesis 'Islamic Economic Thought in Malaysia (1900–1980): Ideas, Setting, Interaction'
• Encyclopedia entries for 'Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia' and 'Masjid Negara' (2020)
• Research reports on Malaysian economic policy and trade agreements (2014-2015)
• Articles in Third World Resurgence magazine on investment treaties and climate policy (2012-2013)

Before pursuing his PhD, Dr. Abdul Aziz had a diverse career including teaching secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, working as a journalist for Malaysiakini, and conducting research for international NGOs like Third World Network. His professional background in journalism and policy research informs his anthropological approach to studying bureaucratic institutions and religious governance in Southeast Asia.