Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
Indonesia is by far the largest Muslim-majority country in the
world, and the world's third largest democracy. It is
generally well-known that Islam in Indonesia is mainstream and
politically moderate. Less well appreciated are the
complexities of Indonesia's politics.
Indonesia is not an "Islamic state." Neither is it,
however, a secular society. In fact, displays of piety and
Islamic consciousness are on the rise, and the political appeal to
Islam has only grown with Indonesia's democracy. But, what
does this mean? How will the debate among traditionalists,
modernists, conservatives, and radicals play out? What are
the trend lines? What do these trends mean for Indonesia's
role in the world? What do the trends mean for U.S.-Indonesia
relations?
Indonesia is at the heart of economic and political development
in East Asia. It has assumed a leading role in the battle
against terrorism. And it aspires to global leadership.
How its political environment develops is a matter of serious
interest to American policy makers.
More About the Speakers
Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar
Distinguished Visiting Professor,
Southeast Asia Studies Program,
School of Advanced International Studies,
Johns Hopkins University
Angel Rabasa
Senior Policy Analyst,
RAND Corporation
Sadanand Dhume
Bernard Schwartz Fellow,
Asia Society Washington Center
Hosted By
Walter Lohman
Director, Asian Studies Center
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