ASU - INDONESIAN INSTITUTIONS EXCHANGE PROGRAM
ON
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this exchange project is to create peaceful conflict resolution
activities in Indonesia by applying modern principles in a multi-religious and
multi-ethnic society in transition to democracy. This project will significantly
aid the US Embassy reach its goals of a more peaceful and harmonious culture
in Indonesia. Furthermore, it will help Secretary Powell's aim of focusing the
world leaders on new ways to resolve long-standing disputes that cannot be solved
by the army or a centralized government. It will also further the goal, outlined
by Senators Lugar and Kennedy, of building cultural bridges to the Islamic world.
Expanding on the success of the university linkage program between Arizona State
University (ASU) and Indonesian institutions, this project aims to implement
change through exchanging theories and information on ethnic and religious issues.
It has four major goals: 1) promote appropriate strategies of conflict resolution;
2) develop a comprehensive training manual; 3) train qualified mediators; and
4) establish mediation centers in Indonesian institutions. The four participating
Indonesian institutions include the State Institutes for Islamic Studies in
Semarang (Central Java), Bandar Lampung (Southern Sumatra), Lombok (West Nusa
Tenggara), and Satya Wacana Christian University (Central Java). The participating
ASU units include: the Program for Southeast Asian Studies, the Department of
Religious Studies, the Department of Languages and Literatures, and the Morrison
School of Agribusiness & Resource Management's Arizona Agriculture Mediation
Program, funded by the USDA.
Indonesian diversity has recently become the source of many difficult to solve
conflicts that have worsened the social and economic crisis and cost many lives.
We propose to use alternative conflict resolution with long-term goals that
emphasize ongoing, active and peaceful communication between the conflicting
parties. With well-planned follow up activities, the project will help build
sustainable, peaceful mediation activities and, hence, will enhance the transformation
of the world's largest Moslem country into a civil and democratic society.
INDONESIA: BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
MANAGEMENT, PERSONNEL AND PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES / ITINERARY
VISIT INDONESIA REPORT AUGUST 2003