Interreligious Conflict and the Politics of Interfaith Dialogue in Myanmar

Published by ISEAS Publishing 2019

Interreligious Conflict and the Politics of Interfaith Dialogue in Myanmar

Edited by: Nyi Nyi Kyaw

https://doi.org/10.1355/9789814843881

Overview
Contents

About this book

"This book addresses one of the most crucial questions in Southeast Asia: did the election in Indonesia in 2014 of a seemingly populist-oriented president alter the hegemony of the political and economic elites? Was it the end of the paradox that the basic social contradictions in the country’s substantial capitalist development were not reflected in organized politics by any independent representation of subordinated groups, in spite of democratization? Beyond simplified frameworks, grounded scholars have now come together to discuss whether and how a new Indonesian politics has evolved in a number of crucial fields. Their critical insights are a valuable contribution to the study of this question." — Professor Olle Törnquist, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo Amidst successive episodes of interreligious violence in Myanmar between 2012 and 2014, interfaith dialogue emerged as a crucial conflict resolution and prevention mechanism. The 2011–16 Union Solidarity and Development Party administration often indirectly promoted the use of interfaith dialogue to defuse interreligious tensions and conflicts, though its political will was questionable. Various governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental actors have engaged in interfaith dialogue, peace, and harmony initiatives in the past seven years. The present National League for Democracy administration has more actively sought to engage in intrafaith promotion of Buddhism and in interfaith peace and harmony initiatives. Intergovernmental, international and local interfaith actors also work in the interfaith dialogue field, but their impact is relatively weak because the government remains the most important actor in Myanmar in transition. Although the National League for Democracy has largely eliminated Buddhist nationalist groups such as Ma Ba Tha, Buddhist identity politics remains influential after the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’s attacks in Rakhine State in 2016 and 2017 and the consequent refugee crisis. Although extreme anti-Muslim Buddhist identity politics may not see a resurgence in the approach to the 2020 general elections, it may come back in more nuanced forms. Interfaith dialogue and other training and activities for interreligious peace and harmony will thus remain relevant to the political scene.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
FOREWORD Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Interreligious Conflict and the Politics of Interfaith Dialogue in Myanmar Nyi Nyi Kyaw Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	29

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: ISEAS Publishing
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 40
Keywords: Islamic Studies

eBook

Published: June 26, 2019
ISBN: 9789814843881