The Global Landscapes of Muslim Lives: Latin American and Caribbean Intersections

• Applicant: Ken Chitwood, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Religious Studies and Jewish Studies ; African, American and Oceania Studies ; Social and Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology ; Islamic Studies, Arabian Studies, Semitic Studies
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566490479

This project’s aim is to examine the lives and linkages of Muslims in Latin America, exploring how their experiences reflect broader possibilities for understanding religion and its global futures. By focusing on the landscapes and infrastructures shaping these experiences, this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersections between local practices and global networks in shaping Muslim life. The following research objectives are designed to provide clarity, direction, and specificity in achieving this overarching aim: Objective 1: To provide a comprehensive, multi-sited exploration of the lives of Muslims across Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas; Objective 2: To investigate the dynamic relationship between local lives and global landscapes of exchange (e.g., ethno-, techno-, media-, ideo-, and financescapes). This includes examining the infrastructures, networks and environments (e.g., urban, ecological, social) that shape these interactions; Objective 3: To survey and document a diverse range of Muslim experiences across the continent and its diasporas through the collection of 75-100 semi-structured interviews and/or life histories with interlocutors in these communities; Objective 4: To compare and analyze the lived experiences of Muslims across diverse geographic, communities, and socio-economic landscapes, drawing out patterns, divergences, and co-constitutive connections; Objective 5: To produce 15-20 detailed profiles of Muslim life in Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas across the Americas and the Atlantic World (based on ethnographic composites or individual interlocutors). These profiles will be used as the basis for both popular and scholarly publications, bridging academic research with broader public engagement; Objective 6: To advance the study of Islam and Muslim communities in Latin America and the Caribbean through post-doctoral research opportunities, the organization of colloquia, and collaborations with Latin America and Caribbean Islamic Studies Association (LACISA); Objective 7: To discuss and disseminate the results with various publics by 1) hosting two academic gatherings (colloquia) involving project members and invitees working on similar topics and themes (co-sponsored and hosted by our respective institutions and LACISA); 2) public-outreach pieces with a view toward engaging popular audiences beyond the academe (e.g., The Conversation, New Lines Magazine, the Revealer; 3) building and sharing the "Americas Muslims Map" via ArcGIS StoryMaps or StoryMap JS; and 4) the production of a) an edited volume or special journal issue based on the colloquia and b) a co-authored monograph that will act as the flagship project publication.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Partner Organisation: Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Cooperation Partner: Privatdozentin Dr. Kholoud Al-Ajarma