CAST > People > Staff Researchers > Ida Sofie Matzen

Ida Sofie Matzen

PhD fellow

Department of Anthropology / CAST
Øster Farimagsgade 5
1353 København K
Location: 16.0.27
Phone: +45 353-23492
Phone (Secretary): +45 353-23464
E-mail: ida.matzen@anthro.ku.dk   

Primary research areas

Regional specialization: Pakistan

Thematic specialization: Sufism and Islam, the relation and connection between religion, spirituality and politics, Pakistani reactions towards radicalization and terrorism, political anthropology, securitization theory and studies.

Current research

Project title: Spirituality, Politics and Security in Pakistan: Sufi Imaginaries and Cosmological Modes of Securitization

Overall, I am studying Sufism, often described as the ”spiritual” part of Islam, and how this form of Islam is political. My project takes its departure in an assumption that the religious or spiritual not necessarily can be considered as set apart from the political. In other words, I am interested in how the spiritual has a political potential, e.g. in Sufi visions of the Pakistani society and the political role Sufism potentially plays in Pakistani societies, among other things in relation to increased radicalization.

In the PhD project I explore practices and ideas of securitization within apparently apolitical groupings of followers of Sufi Islam in Lahore, Pakistan. I am interested in how processes of securitization contribute to a specific ”Sufi engagement” in society and politics of present Pakistan. Sufism, in this light, addresses a range of potential threats below the level of exceptionality, from the individual level (where e.g. greed or desire are threats against the human being) to the national level (where e.g. Taleban and to some extent the Saudi inspired Wahabism are considered threats against Sufis, Pakistan, the Muslim community and humanity) an finally at the global and cosmological plane concerning world peace.

Time period: September 1st 2009-August 31st 2013