Michael G. Peletz

Michael G. Peletz is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Anthropology at Emory University, where he has served since 2006 and was Department Chair from 2009-2012. His research focuses on social/cultural theory, gender/sexuality, law, and Islam's role in modernity, with fieldwork emphasis on Malaysia and broader Southeast Asia.

Education: PhD in Anthropology from the University of Michigan (1983).

Research Interests: Explores intersections of religion, law, and social justice through historical and ethnographic lenses. Notable themes include Sharia court transformations, neoliberalism's impact on legal systems, and pluralism's cultural dynamics. Recent work examines how Malaysian institutions balance Islamization with globalization.
Investigates gender diversity across Asia, particularly transgender ritual roles in Southeast Asian history, and conditions fostering tolerance vs. exclusion of difference.

Key Contributions: Authored influential texts on Islamic jurisprudence's role in nation-building, gender pluralism's historical trajectories, and contemporary Sharia adaptations. His 2009 book on gender pluralism earned Choice's Outstanding Academic Title award.

Professional Activities: Advised numerous graduate students (currently on hiatus) and conducted fieldwork across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and other regions. Engages comparative analyses involving Egypt and the Netherlands.