Faculty of Philosophy UGM invites tens of experts in socio-humanities sciences to discuss Indonesian post reform democracy to the 6th International Conference on Nusantara Philosophy (ICNP) in Senate Hall UGM, 13-14 October 2016.
Political anthropology expert from Boston University, Prof. Robert Hefner, came as keynote speaker that discussed the hopes and challenges facing Indonesia as the largest Muslim democracy.
Sociologist from University of Melbourne, Prof. Vedi Hadiz, also became keynote speaker who discussed Islam and national populism. Other speakers were former chief editor of Jurnal Perempuan, Dr. Phil. Dewi Candraningrum, and Philosophy UGM professor, Prof. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin.
Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Arqom Kuswanjono, said the conference was expected to encourage research in democracy. The conference theme Democracy, Identities, and Ideologies was relevant and required to respond the current state condition amidst vulnerable political year. There is an urgent need to evaluate the current Indonesian democracy because it is often seen that the success of democracy is on how big the involvement in the general election.
"Democracy for certain groups became a tool to manipulate the support and grab power while responsibility value of the power is forgotten,” he said.
For the past fifteen years after reform, democracy became a serious problem, characterised by high cost politics which did not generate qualified leaders and produced corrupt culture and mentality among state institutions at various levels of bureaucracy. It is added with religious identity that is exploited to mobilise support in democracy agenda through means that are upsetting, causing tension, and threatening unity.
Arqom emphasised the importance to encourage democracy studies that follow the world development. This is important to formulate the best format and formula for Indonesian democracy in the future.
Event chairman, Rachmad Hidayat, Ph.D., said the conference presented current research in socio-humanities sciences from the country and abroad related to democracy, identity, and ideology. There are 38 papers being presented by 56 speakers here. Outcomes of research are issues on democracy and customary law, democracy and social exclusion, democracy and identity politics, gender, religious populism agama, democracy and environment, and democracy and tradition as well as local wisdom.