Iselin Frydenlund

Professor

Study of Religion
head of RV section
Iselin.Frydenlund@mf.no
Office: 476A
Phone number: 22590619

I hold a PhD in religious studies from University of Oslo (2011) on Buddhism and violence during the Sri Lankan civil war, and my research interests include the role of religion in war and peace, suicide terrorism, interreligious dialogue, and freedom of religion or belief.

My research area is Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, specializing in questions concerning the relationship between Buddhism, nationalism, politics and violence. Currently, I am working on Buddhist political and legal activism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka and Buddhist-Muslim relations in South and Southeast Asia. I take a particular interest in fieldwork methodology in the study of religion in its social context.

For a number of years, I have been affiliated to the Peace Research Institute Oslo, PRIO, and Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, and I have cooperated with the Buddhist Federation of Norway and monastic organizations in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Bangladesh, on religious minority rights in Buddhist majority states. I am also deeply engaged in an academic exchange program with Myanmar Institute of Theology.

Member of MF CASR

Selected publications

View all publications on the Cristin website...

Frydenlund, I. (2019). The rise of religious offence in transitional Myanmar, Outrage: The Rise of Religious Offence in Contemporary South Asia,, s. 77 - 102. UCL Press, ISBN: 9781787355286
Frydenlund, I. (2018). Tamil Militancy in Sri Lanka and the Role of Religion, Oxford Research Encyclopedias - Religion,, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199340378
Frydenlund, I. (2017). The birth of Buddhist politics of religious freedom in Myanmar, Journal of Religious and Political Practice, s. 107 - 121. Journal of Religious and Political Practice, ISSN: 2056-6093
Frydenlund, I. (2017). "Buddhism has Made Asia Mild" : The Modernist Construction of Buddhism as Pacifism, Buddhist Modernities: Re-inventing Tradition in the Globalizing Modern World,, s. 204 - 221. Routledge, ISBN: 9781138687844
Frydenlund, I. (2017). ‘Operation Dhamma’: The Sri Lankan Armed Forces as an Instrument of Buddhist Nationalism, Military Chaplaincy in an Era of Religious Pluralism: Military–Religious Nexus in Asia, Europe, and USA,, s. 81 - 103. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199470747
Frydenlund, I. (2017). Buddhist Militarism Beyond Texts: The Importance of Ritual during the Sri Lankan Civil War, Journal of Religion and Violence, s. 27 - 48. Journal of Religion and Violence, ISSN: 2159-6808
Frydenlund, I. (2017). Religious Liberty for Whom? The Buddhist Politics of Religious Freedom During Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy , Nordic Journal of Human Rights, s. 55 - 73. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, ISSN: 1891-8131
Frydenlund, I. (2016). Particularist Goals through Universalist Means: The Political Paradoxes of Buddhist Revivalism in Sri Lanka, Buddhism and the Political Process,, s. 97 - 120. Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 9781137573995
Frydenlund, I. (2016). Bodu Bala Sena: Army of Buddhist Power, World Religions and Spirituality Project, World Religions and Spirituality Project
Frydenlund, I. (2013). “Religion, civility and conflict – towards a concept of “critical civility”, Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, s. 109 - 124. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, ISSN: 0926-2326
Frydenlund, I. (2012). Canonical Ambiguity and Differential Practices: Buddhism and Militarism in Contemporary Sri Lanka, Buddhism and Violence. Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia,, s. 95 - 119. Routledge, ISBN: 978-0-415-53696-7
Frydenlund, S. I. (2005). Hør Her! Du som er fra Norge. Feltarbeidserfaringer fra et konfliktfylt Sri Lanka, Kulturvitenskap i felt. Metodiske og pedagogiske erfaringer,, s. 163 - 183. Cappelen Damm Høyskoleforlaget, ISBN: 82-7634-658-8
Frydenlund, I. (2005). The Sangha and its relations to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka
Frydenlund, I. (2004). «Buddhaer og bazukaer: motstridende bilder av vold og buddhisme på Sri Lanka», DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, ISSN: 1501-9934

Latest academic publications

View all publications on the Cristin website...

Frydenlund, I. & Phyo, W. (2024). Revolution or Order? Buddhist Responses to the 2021 Military Coup in Myanmar, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Journal of Contemporary Asia, ISSN: 0047-2336
Larsson, G. & Frydenlund, I. & Brekke, T. (2024). A Burning Affair : Introducing a Special Issue on the Burning of the Qur’an , Temenos, s. 5 - 26. Temenos, ISSN: 0497-1817
Frydenlund, I. & Larsson, G. & Meyer, V. H. & Skovgaard-Petersen, J. (2024). Reflections on the Special Issue: Burning of the Qur’an, Temenos, Temenos, ISSN: 0497-1817
Frydenlund, I. (2023). The Power of Kataragama: From “Hotspot” to “Cold Spot”?, Numen, s. 70 - 94. Numen, ISSN: 0029-5973
Frydenlund, I. (2023). Theorizing Buddhist anti-Muslim nationalism as global Islamophobia, Ethnic and Racial Studies, s. 1034 - 1056. Ethnic and Racial Studies, ISSN: 0141-9870
Ganesh, B. & Frydenlund, I. & Brekke, T. (2023). Flows and modalities of global Islamophobia, Ethnic and Racial Studies, s. 895 - 906. Ethnic and Racial Studies, ISSN: 0141-9870
McKay, M. & Frydenlund, I. (2022). Buddhist 'Radicalism' - A Vehicle for Female Empowerment?, Laughter, Creativity, and Perseverance : Female Agency in Buddhism and Hinduism,, s. 94 - 119. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780197603727
Frydenlund, I. (2022). Buddhist Constitutionalism beyond Constitutional Law: Buddhist Statecraft and Military Ideology in Myanmar, Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law,, s. 198 - 219. Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 9781009286022
Frydenlund, I. & Leidig, E. (2022). Introduction: “Love Jihad”: Sexuality, Reproduction and the Construction of the Predatory Muslim Male, Religions, Religions, ISSN: 2077-1444
Frydenlund, I. (2022). Religion: autoritære krefters nye maktspråk?, Kirke og kultur, s. 103 - 112. Kirke og kultur, ISSN: 0023-186X
Frydenlund, I. & Mang, P. Z. & Wai, P. & Hayward, S. (2021). Religious Responses to the Military Coup in Myanmar, Review of Faith & International Affairs, s. 77 - 88. Review of Faith & International Affairs, ISSN: 1557-0274
Frydenlund, I. (2021). Protecting Buddhist Women from Muslim Men: “Love Jihad” and the Rise of Islamophobia in Myanmar, Religions, s. 1 - 21. Religions, ISSN: 2077-1444
Jerryson, M. & Frydenlund, I. (2020). Buddhists, Muslims and the Construction of Difference, Buddhist-Muslim Relations in a Theravada World,, s. 263 - 297. Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 978-981-32-9883-5
Frydenlund, I. & Jerryson, M. (2020). An Introduction: Buddhist-Muslim Relations in a Theravada World, Buddhist-Muslim Relations in a Theravada World,, s. 1 - 21. Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 978-981-32-9883-5
Frydenlund, I. & Jerryson, M. (2020). Buddhist-Muslim Relations in a Theravada World, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 978-981-32-9883-5
Frydenlund, I. (2019). Buddhist Islamophobia: Actors. Tropes. Contexts, Handbook of Conspiracy Theory and Contemporary Religion,, s. 279 - 302. Brill Academic Publishers, ISBN: 978-90-04-38150-6
Hayward, S. & Frydenlund, I. (2019). Religion, Secularism, and the Pursuit of Peace in Myanmar, Review of Faith & International Affairs, s. 1 - 11. Review of Faith & International Affairs, ISSN: 1557-0274
Frydenlund, I. (2019). Protecting the Sasana through Law: Radical Buddhism and Religious Freedom in Transitional Myanmar, Secularism, Religion, and Democracy in Southeast Asia,, s. 194 - 212. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199496693
Frydenlund, I. (2019). The rise of religious offence in transitional Myanmar, Outrage: The Rise of Religious Offence in Contemporary South Asia,, s. 77 - 102. UCL Press, ISBN: 9781787355286
Frydenlund, I. (2019). A New Formatting: Myanmar’s 2015 "race and religion laws", Formatting Religion: Across Politics, Education, Media, and Law,, s. 37 - 55. Routledge, ISBN: 9781138599987
Frydenlund, I. (2018). MaBaTha, World Religions and Spirituality Project, World Religions and Spirituality Project
Frydenlund, I. (2018). Buddhism and violence: an Oxymoron? Text and tradition in Buddhist Just-War Thinking, The Warrior and the Pacifist. Competing Motifs in Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam,, s. 13 - 35. Routledge, ISBN: 9781138585430
Frydenlund, I. (2018). Tamil Militancy in Sri Lanka and the Role of Religion, Oxford Research Encyclopedias - Religion,, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199340378
Frydenlund, I. (2017). The birth of Buddhist politics of religious freedom in Myanmar, Journal of Religious and Political Practice, s. 107 - 121. Journal of Religious and Political Practice, ISSN: 2056-6093
Frydenlund, I. (2017). "Buddhism has Made Asia Mild" : The Modernist Construction of Buddhism as Pacifism, Buddhist Modernities: Re-inventing Tradition in the Globalizing Modern World,, s. 204 - 221. Routledge, ISBN: 9781138687844
Frydenlund, I. (2017). ‘Operation Dhamma’: The Sri Lankan Armed Forces as an Instrument of Buddhist Nationalism, Military Chaplaincy in an Era of Religious Pluralism: Military–Religious Nexus in Asia, Europe, and USA,, s. 81 - 103. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199470747
Frydenlund, I. (2017). Buddhist Militarism Beyond Texts: The Importance of Ritual during the Sri Lankan Civil War, Journal of Religion and Violence, s. 27 - 48. Journal of Religion and Violence, ISSN: 2159-6808
Frydenlund, I. (2017). Religious Liberty for Whom? The Buddhist Politics of Religious Freedom During Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy , Nordic Journal of Human Rights, s. 55 - 73. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, ISSN: 1891-8131
Frydenlund, I. (2016). Particularist Goals through Universalist Means: The Political Paradoxes of Buddhist Revivalism in Sri Lanka, Buddhism and the Political Process,, s. 97 - 120. Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 9781137573995
Frydenlund, I. (2016). Bodu Bala Sena: Army of Buddhist Power, World Religions and Spirituality Project, World Religions and Spirituality Project
Frydenlund, I. (2013). “Religion, civility and conflict – towards a concept of “critical civility”, Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, s. 109 - 124. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, ISSN: 0926-2326
Frydenlund, I. (2013). The Protection of Dharma and Dharma as Protection: Buddhism and Security across Asia, The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Security,, Routledge, ISBN: 978-0-415-66744-9
Frydenlund, I. (2012). Canonical Ambiguity and Differential Practices: Buddhism and Militarism in Contemporary Sri Lanka, Buddhism and Violence. Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia,, s. 95 - 119. Routledge, ISBN: 978-0-415-53696-7
Frydenlund, S. I. (2005). Hør Her! Du som er fra Norge. Feltarbeidserfaringer fra et konfliktfylt Sri Lanka, Kulturvitenskap i felt. Metodiske og pedagogiske erfaringer,, s. 163 - 183. Cappelen Damm Høyskoleforlaget, ISBN: 82-7634-658-8
Frydenlund, I. (2004). ”Krig og buddhisme på Sri Lanka – en motsetning?”, Pacem : militært tidsskrift for etisk og teologisk refleksjon, Pacem : militært tidsskrift for etisk og teologisk refleksjon, ISSN: 1500-2322
Frydenlund, I. (2004). «Buddhaer og bazukaer: motstridende bilder av vold og buddhisme på Sri Lanka», DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, ISSN: 1501-9934
Frydenlund, I. (2004). Buddhaer og bazukaer: motstridende bilder av vold og buddhisme på Sri Lanka [Buddhas and Bazukas: Conflicting Images of Buddhism and Violence in Sri Lanka], Din. Tidsskrift for religion og kultur 1., DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, DIN - Tidsskrift for religion og kultur, ISSN: 1501-9934

Research projects

INTERSECT - Intersecting Flows of Islamophobia

Education and practice

2011
PhD, University of Oslo, History of Religion

1996 - 1997
Post-graduate Studies, London School of Economics

Voluntary position

2017 - d.d.
Editorial board, Journal of Religion and Violence

2017 - d.d.
Co-organizer (together with Dr. Jens Borgland) of the Nordic Network for Buddhist Studies

2017 - d.d.
Academic advisor, NORPART Myanmar project at MF

2016 - d.d.
Member, Scientific Board, MF

2012
Norwegian representative to the Domain Committee of Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (ISCH) in COST (EU)

2010
Member of external board, co-operation between PRIO and Indian Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA).

2008
Institute board member, IKOS, University of Oslo

2005
Steering Board Member, Asianettverket (Network for Asia studies in Norway).

1996
Elected National Leader of The Norwegian Solidarity Committee for Latin America (Latin-Amerikagruppene i Norge (LAG)