SOAS Research Online

Authored Books

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) In the Shadow of Shari‘ah:  Islam, Islamic Law, and Democracy in Pakistan. New York: Columbia University Press.

Book Chapters

Nelson, Matthew J. (2023) 'Securing Muslim Boundaries: Religious Freedom and Public Order in Pakistan and Malaysia.' In: Lumina, Iulia, (ed.), The Politics of Muslim Identities in Asia. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 48-65.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2022) 'Regime Types, Regime Transitions, and Religion in Pakistan.' In: Cammett, Melani and Jones, Pauline, (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Politics in Muslim Societies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 115-142.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2022) 'Amending constitutional standards of parliamentary piety in Pakistan? Political and judicial debates.' In: Abeyratne, Rehan and Bui, Ngoc Son, (eds.), The Law and Politics of Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments in Asia. London: Routledge, pp. 111-132. (Comparative Constitutional Change)

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) 'The Meaning of Religious Freedom: From Ireland and India to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.' In: Barkey, Karen, Kaviraj, Sudipta and Naresh, Vatsal, (eds.), Negotiating Democracy and Religious Pluralism in India, Pakistan, and Turkey. New York: Oxford University Press.

Nelson, Matthew J. and Shah, Dian A. H. (2019) 'Regulating Religion through Administrative Law: Religious Conversion in Malaysia Beyond Fundamental Rights.' In: Neo, Jaclyn L, Jamal, Arif A. and Goh, Daniel P. S., (eds.), Regulating Religion in Asia: Norms, Modes, and Challenges. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 233-255.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2017) 'Islamic Law in an Islamic State: What Role for Parliament?' In: Bâli, Aslı Ü. and Lerner, Hanna, (eds.), Constitution Writing, Religion and Democracy. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 235-264.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2017) 'Pakistan.' In: Hamid, Shadi and McCants, William, (eds.), Rethinking Political Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 164-178.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) ''Informal Agencies of Influence in Pakistan: The Interdependence of Social, Religious, and Political Trends'.' In: Mapping Pakistan's Internal Dynamics: Implications for State Stability and Regional Security. Washington, D.C.: National Bureau of Asian Research, pp. 59-77. (NBR Special Report)

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) 'Islamist Parties and Their Proxies in Pakistan: Working With - and Against - the State.' In: Hamid, Shadi and McCants, William, (eds.), Rethinking Political Islam. New York: Oxford University Press.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2014) ''Ilm and the Individual: Islamic Education and the Production of Political Ideas in Pakistan.' In: Jeffrey, Robin and Sen, Ronojoy, (eds.), Being Muslim in South Asia: Diversity and Daily Life. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 161-180.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2013) 'Supporting Subversion? International Organisations and "Freedom of Conscience" in Islamic States.' In: Annicchino, Pasquale, (ed.), Freedom of religion or belief in foreign policy : which one? Florence: European University Institute, pp. 42-46. (RELIGIOWEST)

Nelson, Matthew J. (2012) 'Inheritance Unbound: The Politics of Personal Law Reform in Pakistan and India.' In: Khilnani, Sunil, Raghavan, Vikram and Thiravengadam, Arun, (eds.), Comparative Constitutionalism in South Asia. Delhi, India: Oxford University Press, pp. 219-246.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2012) 'Pakistan.' In: Dizard, Jake, Walker, Christopher and Tucker, Vanessa, (eds.), Countries at the Crossroads 2011: An Analysis of Democratic Governance. Lanham, MD: Freedom House : Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 449-472.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Pakistan 2006-2011.' In: Countries at the Crossroads. New York: Freedom House, pp. 463-486.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Dealing with Difference: Religious Education and the Challenge of Democracy in Pakistan.' In: Merry, M.S. and Milligan, J.A., (eds.), Citizenship, Education, and Identity in Muslim Communities. London: Palgrave, pp. 103-123.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Muslims, Markets, and the Meaning of "A Good Education" in Pakistan.' In: Abbas, Tahir, (ed.), Islam and Education. Vol. 2. London: Routledge.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Religion, Politics, and the Modern University in Pakistan and Bangladesh.' In: Ahmad, Mumtaz and Nelson, Matthew J., (eds.), Islamic Education in Bangladesh and Pakistan: Trends in Tertiary Institutions. Washington, DC: National Bureau of Asian Research, pp. 61-94.

Journal Article

Saeed, Abdullah and Nelson, Matthew J. (2022) 'Islam and Intra/Inter-Religious Relations in Asia.' Melbourne Asia Review.

Nelson, Matthew J. and Hasan, Mubashar (2022) 'When Crackdowns and Cooptation Fail: What Constrains Religious Opposition Forces in Bangladesh?' Melbourne Asia Review, 10.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2022) 'Pakistan, the Middle East, and Islamism.' Seminar: The Monthly Symposium, 754. pp. 58-61.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) 'Taliban Law: Theory and Practice.' Melbourne Asia Review.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) 'Taliban Constitutionalism in Comparative Perspective.' Berkley Forum.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) 'Will Muslim-Majority States Recognise the Taliban’s “Islamic” Regime.' Melbourne Asia Review.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) 'Pandemic Politics in South Asia: Muslims and Democracy.' The Review of Faith and International Affairs, 19 (1). pp. 83-94.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2020) 'Next Steps in the Study of Islam and Politics: From “Islam” to “Muslims”.' Melbourne Asia Review.

Nelson, Matthew J., Bâli, Aslı Ü., Mednicoff, David and Lerner, Hanna (2020) 'From Foreign Text to Local Meaning: The Politics of Religious Exclusion in Transnational Constitutional Borrowing.' Law and Social Inquiry, 45 (4). pp. 935-964.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2020) 'Constitutional Migration and the Meaning of Religious Freedom: From Ireland and India to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.' Journal of Asian Studies, 79 (1). pp. 129-154.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2018) 'Indian Basic Structure Jurisprudence in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Reconfiguring the Constitutional Politics of Religion.' Asian Journal of Comparative Law, 13 (2). pp. 333-357.

Nelson, Matthew J. and Shah, Dian A. H. (2018) 'Operationalizing and Regulating Religious Freedom: Apostasy and Administrative "Reasonableness" in Malaysia and Beyond.' International Journal of Constitutional Law, 16 (4). pp. 1293-1321.

Schonthal, Benjamin, Moustafa, Tamir, Nelson, Matthew J. and Shankar, Shylashri (2016) 'Is the Rule of Law an Antidote for Religious Tension? The Promise and Peril of Judicializing Religious Freedom.' American Behavioral Scientist, 60 (8). pp. 966-986.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2014) 'Social, Religious, and Political Change in Pakistan.' Seminar: The Monthly Symposium, 664. pp. 20-23.

Milam, William B. and Nelson, Matthew J. (2013) 'Pakistan's Populist Foreign Policy.' Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, 55 (1). pp. 121-134.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Embracing the Ummah: Student Politics beyond State Power in Pakistan.' Modern Asian Studies, 45 (3). pp. 565-596.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) '"Faith" and "Development" in Secular and Religious Schools.' Comparative Education Review, 55 (1). 115-117, 129.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Pakistan in 2009: Tackling the Taliban?' Asian Survey, 50 (1). pp. 112-126.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2010) 'Persistent Legal Pluralism and the Challenge of Universal Human Rights.' Oxford Journal of Human Rights Practice, 2 (3). pp. 401-407.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Dealing with Difference: Religious Education and the Challenge of Democracy in Pakistan.' Modern Asian Studies, 43 (2). pp. 591-618.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Pakistan in 2008: Moving Beyond Musharraf.' Asian Survey, 49 (1). pp. 16-27.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Religious Education in Non-Religious Schools: A Comparative Study of Pakistan and Bangladesh.' Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 46 (3). pp. 271-295.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2007) 'Who Speaks for Islam?: 'Authenticity' and the Interpretation of Islamic Law in America's War on Terror.' Australian Journal of International Affairs, 61 (2). pp. 247-66.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2006) 'Madrasas and the Modern State.' RUSI Newsbrief, 26 (7). pp. 74-76.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2006) 'Muslims, Markets, and the Meaning of 'A Good Education' in Pakistan.' Asian Survey, 46 (5). pp. 699-720.

Monographs and Working Papers

Nelson, Matthew J. and Oldmixon, Seth (2017) Bangladesh on the Brink: The New Social Geography of Political Violence. Washington D.C.: Resolve Network Research Report No.1: Bangladesh Research Series.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) Local Orders and International Engagement in South Asia. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution. Local Orders Paper Series; Paper 2.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) Informal Agencies of Influence: The Interdependence of Social, Religious, and Political Trends in Pakistan. In: Mapping Pakistan’s Internal Dynamics. Seattle: National Bureau of Asian Research.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2015) Islamist politics in South Asia after the Arab Spring: Parties and Their Proxies Working With—and Against—the State. Washington D.C.: The Brookings Institution; Rethinking Political Islam Series.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2015) Islamic Law in an Islamic Republic: What Role for Parliament? Oxford: The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society; University of Oxford.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) Campus Conflict, Party Politics, and the Secular State in Bangladesh. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British High Commission (Dhaka).

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) Religion, Politics, and the Modern University in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Seattle: National Bureau of Asian Research.

Book Reviews

Nelson, Matthew J. (2023) 'Review of Moeen Cheema, ‘Courting Constitutionalism: The Politics of Public Law and Judicial Review in Pakistan'.' International Journal of Constitutional Law, 21 (3). p. 256.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) 'Review of Nicholas Martin, 'Landlords, Politics, and Islam in Pakistan' Routledge: (Exploring the Political in South Asia), 192 p.' South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal .

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Review of: Hilary Synnott, Transforming Pakistan: Ways Out of Instability (London: Routledge and the International Institute of Strategic Studies [IISS], 2009), 198 pp.' South Asia Research, 31 (2). pp. 183-185.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2011) 'Review of Irfan Ahmad, 'Islam and Democracy in India: The Transformation of Jamaat-e-Islami'.' American Ethnologist, 38 (2). pp. 405-406.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2009) 'Review of David Loyn, 'Butcher and Bolt: two hundred years of foreign engagement in Afghanistan'.' The Middle East in London, 6 (1).

Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Review of Srirupa Roy, 'Beyond Belief: India and the Politics of Postcolonial Nationalism'.' Asian Affairs, 39 (2). pp. 287-288.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2008) 'Review of Vazira Fazila-Yaqoobali Zamindar, 'The Long Partition and the Making of Modern South Asia: Refugees, Boundaries, Histories'.' Asian Affairs, 39 (2). pp. 447-448.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2007) 'Review of Tariq Rahman, 'Denizens of Alien Worlds: A Study of Education, Inequality, and Polarization in Pakistan'.' South Asia Research, 27 (1).

Nelson, Matthew J. (2006) 'Review of Jan-Peter Hartung and Helmut Reifeld, 'Islamic Education, Diversity, and National Identity: Dini Madaris in India Post-9/11'.' South Asia Research, 26 (3). pp. 308-310.

Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs

Nelson, Matthew J. and Rahimi, Haroun (2022) What a Taliban theocracy means for Afghanistan. Melbourne Asia Review [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2021) Will Muslim-Majority States Recognise the Taliban’s "Islamic" Regime? Pursuit [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. and Ahmed, Zahid (2021) Pakistan, the Taliban, and the Future of Afghanistan. Ear to Asia Podcasts, episode 87 [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2020) The Taliban’s (Islamic) Isolation. Chatham House [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2020) U.S. Senate Elections: Lessons from South Asia. Election Watch [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2020) Who Decides Who’s a Muslim in Modern Islamic States? Ear to Asia Podcasts, episode 78 [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. and Ranjah, Zia Ullah (2019) Article 370 in India: Modi’s BJP versus India’s Constitutional Basic Structure? SOAS Blog [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2019) Constituting Religion: From South Asia to Malaysia. The Immanent Frame [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. and Shah, Dian A. H. (2017) The Politics of Administrative "Reasonableness" in Malaysia. Admin Law Blog [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2014) The India-Pakistan relationship: From Delhi to Islamabad via Rawalpindi. India LSE Blog [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Nelson, Matthew J. (2013) Does Democracy Mean Different Things in India and Pakistan? South Asia @ LSE [Opinion Pieces / Media / Blogs]

Other

Nelson, Matthew J. (2016) 'Political Islam: Beyond the Muslim Brotherhood.' Written evidence to the U.K. Foreign Affairs Select Committee . London: U.K. Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Nelson, Matthew J. (2006) 'India and the Problem of Religious Militancy in Pakistan or "the Road to Delhi passes through Islamabad".' Minutes of Evidence . London: Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.