Culture, Transnationalism, and Civil Society: Aga Khan Social Service Initiatives in Tanzania

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Focusing on the growing transnational community of Ismailis (Muslim Shi'a followers of the Aga Khan), this study analyzes the transnational and cultural characteristics of the Ismaili social service network in the context of state/society relations. There are approximately 20 million Ismailis worldwide in over 20 countries throughout the world, and they have developedunder the auspices of the Aga Khana sophisticated private sector nonprofit social service network of hospitals and schools that serves the health care and education needs of Ismailis and non-Ismailis. Based on research and interviews conducted in Europe and Africa from 1992-1995, this study shows how a strong society can contribute significantly to the social service goals of developing nations. It also provides information on the Ismailis of Tanzania which has not previously been available in the west, and so will be of interest to scholars of comparative politics, religious, development theory, and African Studies.

Reviews

The research is extraordinary; the author succeeded where others have failed in gaining access to the international, national, and local Ismaili records on health care and education in Tanzania. He also interviewed more than one hundred Ismaili and African leaders and examined pertinent government records in the Tanzanian archives. * The International Journal of African Historical Studies *

Author Bio

Paul J. Kaiser is assistant professor of political science at Mississippi State University. He holds a PhD from Indiana University.