Religion, Identity and Global Governance

Navigation

Events

No events.

In the News Turkey: Democracy and Islam
This month, Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited the White House, where he was warmly greeted by President Bush: "Turkey sets a fantastic example for nations around the world to see where it's possible to have a democracy coexist with a great religion like Islam." Mr. Gul's election to the Turkish Presidency has shown that it is possible for Muslim Democratic parties to succeed.

In the News

Turkey: Democracy and Islam

This month, Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited the White House, where he was warmly greeted by President Bush: "Turkey sets a fantastic example for nations around the world to see where it's possible to have a democracy coexist with a great religion like Islam." Mr. Gul's election to the Turkish Presidency has shown that it is possible for Muslim Democratic parties to succeed.

Critical Reports Indonesia: Tackling Radicalism in Poso	Events Islam, Media and Public Diplomacy
Poso, the main port and transportation hub for the northeastern coast of the Central Sulawesi district of Indonesia has had a decade long history of religious violence. Between 1998 and 2001, it had been the site of intense Christian-Muslim fighting. After a government-brokered peace agreement in 2001, the violence became one-sided, primarily linked to a Muslim extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah, who attacked Christians and local officials. The Indonesian government responded in 2007 with major police operations. As a result of the operations, almost all of the Jemaah Islamiyah religious teachers have fled Poso, most of the perpretrators of attacks since 2001 have been arrested and convicted, a vocational training program to provide economic opportunies for would-be extremists has been established, and no serious violence has taken place in Poso in the past twelve months. For a more detailed description of events refer to the International Crisis Group's report on Indonesia: Tackling Radicalism in Poso.	This daylong event will examine how media coverage shapes the ways in which readers (including politicians, diplomats, public opinion leaders, and members of the public) understand the intersection of religion and politics - and the subsequent impact on public diplomacy. Friday, April 18, 2008 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm in ASC 207, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles

Critical Reports

Indonesia: Tackling Radicalism in Poso

Events

Islam, Media and Public Diplomacy

Poso, the main port and transportation hub for the northeastern coast of the Central Sulawesi district of Indonesia has had a decade long history of religious violence. Between 1998 and 2001, it had been the site of intense Christian-Muslim fighting. After a government-brokered peace agreement in 2001, the violence became one-sided, primarily linked to a Muslim extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah, who attacked Christians and local officials. The Indonesian government responded in 2007 with major police operations. As a result of the operations, almost all of the Jemaah Islamiyah religious teachers have fled Poso, most of the perpretrators of attacks since 2001 have been arrested and convicted, a vocational training program to provide economic opportunies for would-be extremists has been established, and no serious violence has taken place in Poso in the past twelve months. For a more detailed description of events refer to the International Crisis Group's report on Indonesia: Tackling Radicalism in Poso.

This daylong event will examine how media coverage shapes the ways in which readers (including politicians, diplomats, public opinion leaders, and members of the public) understand the intersection of religion and politics - and the subsequent impact on public diplomacy.

Friday, April 18, 2008 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm in ASC 207, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles

Analysis Issue Brief: Darfur
The conflict in Darfur has left nearly 400,000 people dead and 2 million displaced from their homes. Concern about murder, rape, and starvation leave Darfurian civilians in a constant state of fear. Since 2003, Sudanese armed forces and a militia supported by the Sudanese government, the Janjaweed (mostly of Arab nomadic background), have been fighting against the Sudanese Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, two rebel groups in the region. The rebel groups have asserted that their aim is to persuade the government of Sudan to do something about underdevelopment and political discrimination in the region. The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed have responded with violence against civilians from the ethnic groups that members of the rebel groups represent. In May 2006 the Darfur Peace Agreement was reached between one of the rebel groups and the Sudanese government. Since the agreement, many of the conditions have not been met and violence has escalated. Increasing numbers of people have been displaced from their homes and now reside in shelters. Humanitarian aid agencies have been feeling the strain of limited resources. The situation in Darfur brings up questions about the role of the international community, the possibility of using UN peacekeepers, the use of the term "genocide," the use of force, respect for state sovereignty, and the role of the African Union. Religious communities have responded through diplomacy, sending aid money and supplies, and encouraging global awareness about the situation that is transpiring.

Analysis

Issue Brief: Darfur

The conflict in Darfur has left nearly 400,000 people dead and 2 million displaced from their homes. Concern about murder, rape, and starvation leave Darfurian civilians in a constant state of fear. Since 2003, Sudanese armed forces and a militia supported by the Sudanese government, the Janjaweed (mostly of Arab nomadic background), have been fighting against the Sudanese Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, two rebel groups in the region. The rebel groups have asserted that their aim is to persuade the government of Sudan to do something about underdevelopment and political discrimination in the region. The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed have responded with violence against civilians from the ethnic groups that members of the rebel groups represent. In May 2006 the Darfur Peace Agreement was reached between one of the rebel groups and the Sudanese government. Since the agreement, many of the conditions have not been met and violence has escalated. Increasing numbers of people have been displaced from their homes and now reside in shelters. Humanitarian aid agencies have been feeling the strain of limited resources. The situation in Darfur brings up questions about the role of the international community, the possibility of using UN peacekeepers, the use of the term "genocide," the use of force, respect for state sovereignty, and the role of the African Union. Religious communities have responded through diplomacy, sending aid money and supplies, and encouraging global awareness about the situation that is transpiring.