Suchergebnisse

While Indonesia's democracy has received much acclaim for institutionalizing fair, free, and peaceful elections, many important challenges still lie ahead. The "politics of reform," which has consumed much of the government's time and energy, are a mixed blessing. Interest collisions - between those who seek change and those who resist it - have caused government paralysis and aversion and, at the same time, sparked promising forms of public participation and resilience. Meanwhile, the Yudhoyono administration has reached a critical juncture that will define political and economic trajectories for upcoming years. Now that two controversies (Bank Century and KPK debacles) have tarnished the government's credentials, the president will need to make continued efforts to sustain support in his cabinet, coalition, and electorate. In order to steer the country toward calmer political waters and higher socio-economic development, President Yudhoyono will be challenged to form flexible policy coalitions and reinstate the momentum for change. (JCSA/GIGA)

Introduction : Religious Conflicts on the Rise -- Religion and Peacebuilding : Theory and Analytical Framework -- Methodology : A Multi-Layered Analysis -- Root Causes of Religious Conflict in Mindanao and Maluku : History, Grievances and Conflict Trajectories -- The Cognitive Dimensions of Conflict and Peace in Mindanao and Maluku -- Church-Based Projects as Game Changers? Attitudes towards Religious Conflict, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Cotabato and Ambon -- No Reconciliation without Church Projects? Attitudes towards Religious Conflict, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Cotabato and Ambon -- Church-Based Projects Matter : A Provincial Meso Perspective from Maluku -- Church-Based Projects, Income and Education : Factors that Matter for Reconciliation -- Conclusions and Implications : Strengthening Church Capacities for Peacebuilding.

Drawing on a rich body of multimethod field research, this book examines the ways in which Indonesian and Philippine religious actors have fostered conflict resolution and under what conditions these efforts have been met with success or limited success. The book addresses two central questions: In what ways, and to what extent, have post-conflict peacebuilding activities of Christian churches contributed to conflict transformation in Mindanao (Philippines) and Maluku (Indonesia)? And to what extent have these church-based efforts been affected by specific economic, political, or social contexts? Based on extensive fieldwork, the study operates with a nested, multi-dimensional, and multi-layered methodological concept which combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Major findings are that church-based peace activities do matter, that they have higher approval rates than state projects, and that they have fostered interreligious understanding. Through innovative analysis, this book fills a lacuna in the study of ethno-religious conflicts. Informed by the novel Comparative Area Studies (CAS) approach, this book is strictly comparative, includes in-case and cross-case comparisons, and bridges disciplinary research with Area Studies. It will be of interest to academics in the fields of conflict and peacebuilding studies, interreligious dialogue, Southeast Asian Studies, and Asian Politics.

Huotari, Mikko: Context, concepts and comparison in Southeast Asian studies : introduction to the special issue