Shane Barter
Shane Barter, PhD
Faculty - Full-Time
After completing my BA, I began working with Forum-Asia, a Thai human rights group, which assigned me to research the conflict in Aceh, Indonesia. The rest is history: the people and politics of Aceh have captivated me, and my experiences have provided me with unique perspectives on the region, armed conflict, and comparative politics more generally. A number of wonderful teachers at the University of British Columbia helped to mould me from an activist to something resembling a scholar. I maintain a continued interest in experiential education, combining interactive teaching with student field experience.
- PhD Political Science, University of British Columbia
- MA Comparative Politics, University of British Columbia
- BA Comparative Politics and Southeast Asian History, University of Victoria
- State & Society
- Democratization
- Armed Conflict in Southeast Asia
- Political Islam
- Political Buddhism
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Introduction to the Pacific Basin
- Learning Cluster: Multiculturalism in Asia
- Learning Cluster: Childhood in Sumatra
- Learning Cluster: Mass Transit on the West Coast
- Learning Cluster: Sex Tourism in Southeast Asia
- Learning Cluster: Politics of Coffee in Aceh, Indonesia
- Learning Cluster: Liberal Arts Education
- Southeast Asian politics
- Civilians in war
- Autonomous areas and conflict resolution
- Fighting Armed Conflicts in Southeast Asia: Ethnicity and Difference (Cambridge University Press, Elements Series on Politics and Society in Southeast Asia, 2020).
- Internal Migration: Challenges in Governance and Integration, co-edited with William Ascher (Peter Lang, 2019).
- The Pacific Basin: An Introduction, co-edited with Michael Weiner (Routledge, 2017).
- Explaining the Genetic Footprints of Catholic and Protestant Colonizers (Palgrave, 2015).
- Civilian Strategy in Civil War: Insights from Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines (Palgrave, 2014).
- Neither Wolf, Nor Lamb: Embracing Civil Society in the Aceh Conflict (Bangkok: Forum-Asia, 2004).
Journal Articles
- "Rethinking Territorial Autonomy", Regional Studies 52:2 (2018); 298-309
- “Civilian Strategy across Southeast Asia,” Journal of Peacebuilding and Development 12:3 (2017); 98-103
- “Under a Rebel Flag: Social Resistance under Insurgent Rule in Aceh,” Journal of Resistance Studies 3:1 (2017); 181-209
- “Dangerous Fieldwork in Southeast Asia,” Comparative Democratization Newsletter 15 (Fall 2017); 21-24
- "Ummah or Tribe? Islamic Practice, Political Ethnocentrism, and Political Attitudes in Indonesia," Asian Journal of Political Science 25:1 (2017) (with Nathan W. Allen); 45-67
- “Coffee: An Indian Ocean Perspective,” International Journal of Area Studies 11:2 (2016); 61-81
- “Zones of Control and Civilian Strategy in the Aceh Conflict,” Civil Wars 17:3 (2015)
- “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Second-Order Minorities in the Aceh Conflict,” Asian Ethnicity 16:2 (2015); 152-165
- “Second-Order Minorities in Asian Secessionist Conflicts,” Asian Ethnicity 16:2 (2015); 123-135 (Guest Editor)
- “Strife of the Soil? Unsettling Transmigrant Conflicts in Indonesia,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 46:1 (2015) (with Isabelle Côté); 60-85
- “Area Studies, Asian Studies, and the Pacific Basin,” Geographical Review 105:1 (2015); 105-119
- “Shrouded: Islam, War, and Holy War in Southeast Asia,” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 53:1 (2014) (with Ian Zatkin-Osburn); 187-201
- Rejoinder by Isak Svennsson, "Conceptualizing the Religious Dimensions of Armed Conflicts: A Response to Shrouded: Islam, War, and Holy War in Southeast Asia," Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 55:1 (2016); pp. 185-189.
- Response by Shane Joshua Barter and Ian Zatkin-Osburn, "Measuring Religion in War: A Response," Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 55:1 (2016); pp. 190-193.
- “State Proxy or Security Dilemma? Understanding Anti-Rebel Militias in Civil War,” Asian Security 9:2 (2013); 75-92
- “Unarmed Forces: Civilian Strategy in Violent Conflicts,” Peace & Change 37:4 (2012); 544-571
- “Strong State, Smothered Society: Explaining the Forms of Violence in Thailand’s Deep South,” Terrorism and Political Violence 23:2 (2011); 213-232
- “The Free Aceh Elections? The 2009 Legislative Contests in Aceh,” Indonesia 91 (2011); 113-130
- “Ulama, the State, and War: Community Islamic Leaders in the Aceh Conflict,” Contemporary Islam 5:1 (2011); 19-36
- “Resources, Religion, & Rebellion: The Sources of Conflict in Aceh,” Small Wars & Insurgencies 19:1 (2008); 39-61
Book Chapters
- "State Violence and Religion," in Religious Violence Today: Faith and Conflict in the Modern World, edited by Michael Jerryson (ABC-CLIO, 2020); pp. 705-782. With SUA students Amanda Boralessa; Mahesh Kushwaha; Vassil Yorgov; Jaroslav Zapletal.
- "Southeast Asia: Unity in ASEAN," in Routledge Handbook of Politics in Asia, edited by Shiping Hua (Routledge, 2018); pp. 98-109 (with Amanda Boralessa)
- "The Rebel State in Society: Accommodation & Governance in the Aceh Conflict,” in Rebel Governance in Civil War, edited by Ana Arjona, Nelson Kasfir, and Zachariah Mampilly (Cambridge University Press, 2015); 226-245
- “Learning to Lose? Not if UMNO Can Help It,” in Political Transitions in Dominant Party Systems, edited by Joseph Wong & Edward Friedman (Routledge, 2008); 211-230 (with Diane Mauzy)
Book Reviews
- "Democracy for Sale: Elections, Clientelism, and the State in Indonesia," by Ed Aspinall and Ward Berenschot, Pacific Affairs (2020)
- “Islam State and Society in Indonesia: Local Politics in Madura, by Pribadi Yanwar,” Asian Journal of Social Science 48:1 (2020) (with Nikita Sukmono, SUA student)
- “From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, by Judith Brett,” Pacific Affairs 93:1 (2020) (with Ana Schugurensky, SUA student)
- “Familial Properties, by Nhung Tuyet Tran,” IIAS Newsletter (2019) (with Ha Chau Ngo, SUA student)
- "China’s Political System, by Sebastian Heilmann", IIAS Newsletter (2018) (with Jaroslav Zapletal)
- "Building Filipino Hawai‘i, by Roderick Labrador," IIAS Newsletter (2017) (with Rayen Rooney)
- "The Making of Middle Indonesia: Middle Classes in Kupang Town, 1930s-1980s," by Gerry van Klinken, Pacific Affairs 90:2 (2017)
- “Religious Diversity in Muslim-Majority States in Southeast Asia by Bernhard Platzdasch and Johan Saravanamuttu,” Asian Journal of Social Science (2016) (with Gabrielle Garfunkel)
- “The Roots of Terrorism in Indonesia, by Solahudin,” Pacific Affairs 88:4 (2015)
- “Political Change & Territoriality in Indonesia by Ehito Kimura,” Canadian Journal of Political Science 88:4 (2015)
- "Soldiers and Diplomacy in Burma: Understanding the Foreign Relations of the Burmese Praetorian State" by Renaud Egreteau and Larry Jagan,” IIAS Newsletter 72 (2015) (with Yuko Nakajima)
- “Ghosts of the Past in Southern Thailand, edited by Patrick Jory,” IIAS Newsletter 69 (2014)
- “Violence and Vengeance: Religious Conflict and its Aftermath in Eastern Indonesia by Christopher R. Duncan,” Sojourn 29:2 (2014)
- “From Colonization to Nation-State: The Political Demography of Indonesia by Riwanto Tirtosudarmo” IIAS Newsletter 67 (2014)
- “Regime Change and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Dayak Politics of West Kalimantan by Taufiq Tanasaldy,” South East Asia Research 22:3 (2014)
- “Ordering Power: Contentious Politics and Authoritarian Leviathans in Southeast Asia by Dan Slater,” The Southeast Review of Asian Studies 35 (2013)
- “The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia by James C. Scott,” Canadian Journal of Political Science 44:04 (2011)
- “Islam and Nation: Separatist Rebellion in Aceh, Indonesia by Edward Aspinall,” Pacific Affairs 83:2 (2010)
- “From Rebellion to Riots: Collective Violence on Indonesian Borneo by Jamie S. Davidson,” South East Asia Research 18:1 (2010)
- “Zones of Peace edited by Landon E. Hancock and Christopher Mitchell,” Peace Review 21:4 (2010)
- “Realpolitik Ideology: Indonesia’s Use of Military Force by Leonard C. Sebastian,” Pacific Affairs 81:1 (2008)
- “Verandah of Violence: Background to the Aceh Problem edited by Anthony Reid,” Pacific Affairs 80:3 (2007)
Other
- “Defending the Minorities of Minorities,” The Pearl (Fall 2017)
- “Intimate Economies: Sex Tourism in Southeast Asia,” Verge Magazine 4:2 (Spring 2014)
- “Strange Bedfellows: The Limits of Partai Aceh Loyalty,” Inside Indonesia 113 (September 2013)
- “Minor Threat? Cracking Down on Punks in Aceh, Indonesia,” CAPI Newsletter (Spring 2013)
- “Islam in Politics, not Political Islam in Indonesian Elections,” Sociology of Islam Newsletter 6 (2011)
- “Boxing Day in Cotabato, Mindanao,” Explorations Southeast Asia 9 (2009); pp. 113-114
- “A Deeper Look into the Recent Elections in Aceh,” Jakarta Post (28 April 2009)
- “Language and the Southern Thai Conflict,” Malaysiakini (17 October 2008)
- “Random Acts of Curiosity,” Verge Magazine (2008)
- “Notes from Indonesia,” CCHS Human Security Bulletin 9:4 (March 2008)
- Featured in “From the Ground Up,” by Tom Peacock, Verge Magazine 4:2 (Spring 2006)
- Featured in “Tsunami Response: One Year Later,” by Brian Lin, UBC Reports 52:1 (January 2006)
- “Reconstruction and Conflict Resolution in Aceh,” CANCAPS Bulletin (20 August 2005)
- “Peace Talks in Post-Tsunami Aceh,” Human Security Bulletin (August 2005)
- “Swedish Court’s Acquittal of Hassan and Accountability for Abuses in Aceh,” Jakarta Post (17 July 2004)
- Director of International Studies, Soka University of America, January 2021-Present
- Professor of Comparative Politics, SUA, August 2021-Present
- Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, SUA, 2017-2021
- Director, Pacific Basin Research Center, 2017-2019
- Associate Director, Pacific Basin Research Center, 2013-2017
- Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics, SUA, 2011-2017
- Instructor, University of British Columbia, 2010-2011
- 2020 Athenaeum Address, Claremont McKenna College
- 2019 Visiting Scholar, Indonesia Project, Australian National University (ANU)
- 2019 Visiting Scholar, Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI), University of Victoria
- 2019-20 PBRC Faculty Fellow, Soka University of America
- 2019 Faculty Merit Award, Soka University of America
- 2019 Special Issue Grant, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies
- 2016 Artinian Fund for Publishing, American Political Science Association
- 2013-14, Co-recipient Best Professor Award, Soka University of America
- 2013, Best Paper Award, ISA-West Conference
- 2012, Visiting Scholar, Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI), University of Victoria
- 2011, Leader of Tomorrow, St. Gallen Symposium, Switzerland
- 2010, Dr. Ronald Baker Doctoral Scholarship (Department of National Defense) ($22,500)
- 2010, Graduate Award, CASIS (Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies)
- 2010, Esterline Prize, best student paper at ASPAC (AAS Pacific Coast)
- 2009, Security and Defense Forum Fellowship (Department of National Defense) ($20,000)
- 2009, Liu Institute Scholar
- 2009, Kenneth Boulding Award, best graduate paper on Peace Studies at ISA
- 2008, Canadian Consortium on Human Security Fellowship ($7,500)
- 2007, DFAIT / CCHS Human Security Research Award
- 2006, SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship (CGS) ($105,000)