Visiting Scholar from Indonesia to Explain Rise of Religious Radicals After Suharto

CHESTERTOWN, MD—A scholar from Indonesia will visit Washington College on Tuesday, September 25 to talk about the rise of religious radicalism in her country.

Poppy S. Winanti, a lecturer in International Relations at the Universitas Gadjah Mada, will explain how progress toward a democratic political system following the fall of President Suharto in 1998 has unleashed both positive outcomes—such as press freedom, free elections and a multi-party system—and negative ones that lead to religious violence and intolerance.

The talk, “Religious Radicalism in the Post-Suharto Era in Indonesia,” will take place at 5 p.m. in Hynson Lounge, Hodson Hall, on the College campus, 300 Washington Avenue.  Sponsored by the Program in Islamic, Turkish and Near Eastern Studies of the Institute for Religion Politics and Culture, the event is free and open to the public.

Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti is currently researching Indonesia’s failure to properly manage religious diversity. She co-authored The Post-Military Society: the Challenges and Opportunities in Demilitarization of Indonesia.