VIDEO: ANU Indonesia Political & Economic Update 2018

The video above is of the live stream of the Political Update and Economic Update presentations which opened the 2018 ANU Indonesia Update conference in Canberra.

CONTENTIOUS BELONGING: THE PLACE OF MINORITIES IN INDONESIA

Convenors: Greg Fealy and Ronit Ricci

The status of minorities throughout Indonesian history has always been a matter of contention. Two broad polarities have been evident: one inclusive of minorities, regarding them as part of the nation’s rich complexity and a manifestation of its ‘unity in diversity’ motto; the other exclusive, viewing with suspicion or disdain those communities or groups that differed from the perceived majority, because of ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability. State and community attitudes towards tolerance or inclusion of minorities has fluctuated over time. Some periods have been notable for the acceptance of minorities and protection of their rights, while others have been marked by violence and discrimination against at least some minorities.

Indonesia’s treatment of minorities over the past decade has become increasingly controversial. While successive Indonesian governments have projected to the world an image of their nation as tolerant and harmonious, domestic and international human rights groups have sharply criticized what they see as worsening attacks on the status and freedom of minorities, especially so-called ‘deviant’ religious sects, the Chinese and LGBTI communities.

This conference will explore historical and contemporary dimensions of Indonesia’s minority communities, discourses about minorities and the shifting attitudes towards them. Particular attention given to questions of religion, gender, sexuality, disability and the law.

See here for the conference program and more information.

Conference administrator

Indonesia Project | The Arndt-Corden Department of Economics | ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

ANU Indonesia Project wishes to thank The Australian National University and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their substantial and continuing support.

The Indonesia Update has been conducted annually since 1983. It is organised by The Australian National University’s Indonesia Project and Department of Political and Social Change.