Two-Part Webinar Series on "Violent Extremism in Indonesia and Japan"

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Habibie Center will co-host a two-part series of online seminars focusing on “Violent Extremism in Indonesia and Japan." In the first session, the Habibie Center will present the results of its research on democracy and violent extremism in Indonesia during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Indonesia has shown the worst impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia. The high infection rate and the high number of death are caused partly due to the government's slow response to the pandemic, inadequate inter-agency coordination, and conflicting policies between those of the central and regional governments. Furthermore, there have been concerns about the excessive use of security forces in handling the pandemic.

Meanwhile, restrictions the government put in place have clogged normal democratic channels. Space for people to make complaints has been limited as demonstration is prohibited. The fact that a substantial number of workers have been laid off has further shrunken civic space. In this context, threats from violent extremism remain visible. Across the country, terrorist groups have been seemingly eager to exploit the social-economic crisis driven by the pandemic. 

In light of this situation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation commissioned the Habibie Center to conduct a survey on violent extremism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in August 2020. The study found that the quality of Indonesia's democracy has continued to decline throughout the COVID-19 crisis; that the decline in the quality of democracy and the state's countermeasures against the pandemic have changed the context in which violent extremist ideology and actions pose a threat to the country and society; that government and non-governmental actors' countermeasures against violent extremism have been declining; and that increased intolerance can nourish radicalization.

We will present the results of these studies in the first online lecture. We look forward to your participation.