Sumanto Al Qurtuby is cultural anthropologist, social scientist, author, columnist, professor, researcher, public speaker, and comedian. Born in Central Java, Indonesia, Sumanto obtained his PhD from Boston University, specializing in anthropology of Islam and Muslim societies, besides degrees (masters and bachelor) in Islamic studies, sociology of religion, and conflict / peace studies from American and Indonesian universities. Sumanto is also director of Nusantara Institute on Culture and Religion (see https://www.nusantarainstitute.com/) as well as co-founder of Nusantara Kita Foundation (see www.nusantarakitafoundation.org/).
Since 2014, Sumanto has been a faculty member in the Department of Global & Social Studies at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia. Previously, he taught at the University of Notre Dame and Boston University. During his academic career, he has been awarded several research and teaching fellowships from several research and academic institutions, including the University of Notre Dame, National University of Singapore, Mennonite Central Committee, Kyoto University, National Science Foundation (USA), Earhart Foundation (USA), University of Oxford, among others.
Moreover, Sumanto is an active commentator on social media, especially Facebook whose personal account has attracted more than 230,000 followers (see https://www.facebook.com/Bungmanto). Sumanto has published more than 24 books and hundreds of journal articles and popular essays in both Indonesian and English languages on issues around Islam, public religion, Muslim politics and cultures, interfaith cooperation, as well as ethno-religious conflict and peacebuilding.
His books include Religious Violence and Conciliation (London: Routledge, 2016) and Saudi Arabia and Indonesian Networks: Migration, Education and Islam (London & New York: I.B. Tauris / Bloomsbury, 2019). He is now working on at least two monographs: (1) Muslim–Christian Encounter in Indonesia: Sectarian Tension and Peaceful Coexistence and (2) Combating Terror: Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia (signed contract with Palgrave Macmillan). If you need to reach him, contact at info@sumantoalqurtuby.com
