Indonesia’s Religious Conflicts: Recent Developments, Causes and Policy Implications for PeaceAmanda Kovacs

ASIEN – Nr. 127 (2013) pp. 48–69

Since the introduction of democracy, political and societal conflicts have become more visible in Indonesia. This article focuses on religious conflicts, highlights the recent developments and patterns, and analyzes the state’s insufficient performance in protecting all of its citizens. The current Indonesian government tends to react rather passively to religious intolerance, discrimination and violence, and the many Indonesian non-governmental organizations and individuals committed to interreligious dialogue are running in place. Three main causes are identified that trigger religious discrimination and violence in Indonesia – namely, the legal framework and its implementation, Islamization and Christianization, and the military and police. The thesis of this article is that policy engagement with these three factors is crucial in order to foster religious peace.

Manuscript received on 2012-10-23, accepted on 2013-03-11
Keywords: Indonesia, religious conflicts, legal situation, Islamization