معرفی
Syed Farid Alatas is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore, where he has taught since 1992. Previously head of the Department of Malay Studies at NUS (2007-2013), his research explores the sociology of Islam, social theory, religion and reform, inter-religious dialogue, and the political economy of knowledge production. His scholarly work critically engages with Eurocentrism and promotes autonomous knowledge traditions.
His research interests focus on decolonial approaches to sociology, examining how power structures shape knowledge systems. Key themes include intellectual imperialism in academia, alternative discourses from the Global South, and the application of Ibn Khaldun's historical sociology to contemporary issues. He emphasizes epistemic justice through reclaiming non-Western intellectual traditions.
Alatas' publications demonstrate sustained engagement with decolonial theory and Malay world epistemologies. Recent works analyze the sociology of autonomous knowledge production, critique academic dependency, and recover marginalized intellectual histories. His scholarship advocates for methodological pluralism in social sciences.
Alatas has fostered dialogue on Muslim sectarianism and Islamic reform through intra- and inter-religious engagement. His pedagogical approach integrates interpretive methods and development studies within civilizational frameworks.
