Mark Sedgwick

Mark Sedgwick is Professor in the School of Culture and Society at Aarhus University, where his research focuses on the transfer of religions and traditions between Islamic and Western contexts during the late pre-modern and modern periods. His scholarly work bridges religious studies, political theory, and cultural history with particular emphasis on Sufism and Traditionalism.

Sedgwick's research interests encompass Sufism (particularly Western Sufism and its historical development), Traditionalism (the intellectual movement founded by René Guénon), Radical Right political thought, Islamic Studies, and the intersection of religion with contemporary politics. His work demonstrates how religious traditions adapt and transform as they cross cultural boundaries, with particular attention to the complex relationship between Islam and the West.

His recent publications reveal an increasing focus on the political dimensions of religious thought, particularly examining how Traditionalist ideas influence contemporary radical right movements and geopolitical thinking. Sedgwick's scholarly output shows a consistent trajectory from historical studies of Sufi orders toward more contemporary analyses of religious political movements and conspiracy theories in Western societies.

Sedgwick has organized significant academic events, including the 2017 international conference on 'Transnational Sufism in Contemporary Societies' held at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, demonstrating his leadership in establishing scholarly dialogue on contemporary Sufism.