Day 2 : To Know Better about Four Countries*

It’s the second day, and I am still trying to adapt myself among the participants from different countries, understanding their backgrounds and accents.

Today, we were divided into 4 country groups; India, Indonesia, Uganda, and Netherland. Addressing the three pre-assessment questions, each of the group presented an introduction on their own countries, the two most important pluralism issues, the institutional engagement, and fears and hopes in dealing with the issues. As we played with prejudices and a glimpse of facts yesterday, we do understand the geographical location, cultural and political situation of these countries, and the issues they are facing regarding pluralism.

Participants from India started the presentation. They came up with two important pluralism issues in India, which are cultural exclusivism including ethnicity, religious minority and gender, and the development problems in which it does not reach everyone in its society. The problems are caused by language and procedural barriers and infrastructural gap between urban and rural areas. The second presentation was delivered by participants from Uganda. They pointed out two issues which were political and economical pluralism. These issues include the repressive government, the restriction toward people’s expression, corruptions, and economic inequality.

From the Dutch group, we learned that there are two pluralism issues in the Netherland which are the fear of Islam and gender issues such as the emergence of a group called “father’s for justice”. Following the Dutch, Indonesian group had their presentation after lunch. There are two important pluralism issues in Indonesia, which are the identity politics in which the state misuses it for its political power, and the issue of religious freedom such as violence and discrimination based on religion. These issues have been increased since the Soeharto regime has collapsed, and state and the society are in the democratic transition.

I like the presentations because I think pluralism is about how to communicate and understand differences and preferences between one and another, and these presentations have done same by helping us to understand how pluralism issues can be considered in various countries. Moreover, the participants also shared their experiences and institutional engagement regarding with pluralism issues in their countries. It’s very inspiring!

Nor Ismah
Writer at Matapena Community, Yogyakarta Indonesia
*my original writing before editing and it has been published on Summer School Participant Weblog 2013