Dr. and Professor
Academic Position • Peter Flügel serves as a Professor in the Study of Religions and Philosophies within the Department of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London. He is also the foundational chair of the Centre of Jaina Studies at SOAS. Educational Background • He obtained his Dr. Phil. degree from Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. Research Focus & Contributions • His expertise spans the history, anthropology, and sociology of Jain traditions—particularly exploring contemporary Jain schools, relic worship (stūpas), Jaina-Vaiṣṇava syncretism, and the socio-legal history of Jainism. He also engages with comparative philosophy, pluralism, and non-violence. • From 2005 to 2025, he produced influential works including “The Invention of Jainism: a short history of Jaina studies” (2005), “Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues” (2006), and more, contributing significantly to the field. Editorial & Project Leadership • Flügel is editor of the International Journal of Jain Studies, series editor for both Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies and Jaina Studies by Harrassowitz, and principal investigator of the Jaina Prosopography project—a significant digital humanities initiative mapping Jain monastic networks. Academic Reputation • On Google Scholar, he has an h-index of 12 with over 500 citations, highlighting both his influence and consistency in academic publishing within Jain studies and religious sociology. Institution - SOAS University of London, Dept. of Religions and Philosophies Role - Professor; Founding Chair, Centre of Jaina Studies Education - Dr. phil., Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz Research Areas - Jainism (schools, sects, rituals), Jaina-Vaiṣṇava syncretism, pluralism Editorial Roles - IJJS Editor; Series Editor for key Jain Studies books Major Projects - Jaina-Prosopography (monastic lineages) Scholarly Impact - h-index 12, 500+ citations
Writes about
Jain Journal A Quarterly on Jainology
Vol. 34 · No. 1
By Peter Flügel
Jinamanjari
Vol. 18 · No. 02
By Hermann Jacobi, Peter Flügel