"Most of these essays are updated versions of papers that were first presented at the international conference 'The madrasa in Asia: transnational linkages and real or alleged political roles', in May 2004 in Leiden"--P. 7.

Introduction: Behind the walls : re-appraising the role and importance of madrasas in the world today / Farish A. Noor, Yoginder Sikand and Martin van Bruinessen -- Voices for reform in the Indian madrasas / Yoginder Sikand -- Change and stagnation in Islamic education : the Dar al-ʻUlum of Deoband after the split in 1982 / Dietrich Reetz -- 'Insde and outside' in a girls' madrasa in New Delhi / Mareike Winkelmann -- Between Pakistan and Qom : Shiʻi women's madrasas and new transnational networks / Mariam Abou Zahab -- The uncertain fate of Southeast Asian students in the madrasas of Pakistan / Farish A. Noor -- Muslim education in China : Chinese madrasas and linkages to Islamic schools abroad / Jackie Armijo -- From Pondok to Parliament : the role played by the religious schools of Malaysia in the development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) / Farish A. Noor -- Traditionalist and Islamist pesantrens in contemporary Indonesia / Martin van Bruinessen -- The salafi madrasas of Indonesia / Noorhaidi Hasan.