Radical Islam and Democracy: Indian and Southeast Asian Experiences

Radical Islam and Democracy: Indian and Southeast Asian Experiences

The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), undertook a study in 2007 examining the linkage between Islam and international terrorism and study of Indian democracy as a moderating influence on Muslims in the country which has prevented them from seeking recourse to radical Islam.

In May 2008, the IPCS along with the KAF organized a roundtable on “Radical Islam and Democracy: Indian and Southeast Asian Experiences” to deliberate the issue over a two-day conference in Goa. The conference was attended by eminent Indians who have deliberated on these issues and other distinguished guests from Southeast Asia including scholars, analysts, policy advisors, journalists, and country and regional representatives of KAF. Initial remarks were made by Indian presenters about the Indian experience, followed by detailed discussions on various dimensions of the rise of radical Islam.

The following issues were discussed

Radical Islam: Indian Democracy as a Moderating Factor: Presentation of the IPCS-KAF study
Speaker: Maj. Gen. Dipankar Banerjee, Director, IPCS

Secular and Democratic Constitution: Its Significance in a Heterogeneous Society
Speakers: PR Chari, Research Professor, IPCS
                  Mr. Mohamed Imran Taib, Vice President, Da’wah Division, Muslims
                  Converts Association, Singapore
                  Dr. Yudi Latif, Chairman, Centre for Islam and State Studies,
                  Paramadina University, Indonesia
Discussants: Prof Siddiq Wahid, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University, Srinagar
                     Dr. Canan Atilgan, Resident Representative to Thailand, KAF

Safeguarding Minority Rights: Judiciary & the Rule of Law
Speakers: Aswini Ray, Former Professor, Centre for Political Studies, JNU
                  Dr. Amina Rasul, Lead Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam
                  and Democracy, Manila
Discussant: Dr. Oamar Agha, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi

Pluralism, Equality, Civil Society and the Media

                       Speakers: Prof. Yoginder Sikand, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
                                         Dr. Jaran Maluleem, Professor, Thammasat University, Thailand
                       Discussants: Dr. Colin Duerkop, KAF Regional Representative to Singapore
                                           Waris Mazhari, Editor, Tarjuman-e-Dar-ul Ulum, New Delhi

Nature of Islam: Strengthening the Moderates and Resisting the Radicals

Speakers: Prof. Anwar Alam, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
                  Dr. Khalid Jaafa, Executive Director, Institute for Policy Research,
                  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Discussants: Mr. Winfried Weck, Resident Representative to Indonesia, KAF
                     Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
                     Mr. Pawan Khera, Political Secretary to Chief Minister of Delhi

Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities: The Road Ahead


The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) is the premier South Asian think tank which conducts independent research on and provides an in depth analysis of conventional and non-conventional issues related to national and South Asian security including nuclear issues, disarmament, non-proliferation, weapons of mass destruction, the war on terrorism, counter terrorism , strategies security sector reforms, and armed conflict and peace processes in the region. For those in South Asia and elsewhere, the IPCS website provides a comprehensive analysis of the happenings within India with a special focus on Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalite Violence. Our research promotes greater understanding of India's foreign policy especially India-China relations, India's relations with SAARC countries and South East Asia. Through close interaction with leading strategic thinkers, former members of the Indian Administrative Service, the Foreign Service and the three wings of the Armed Forces - the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, - the academic community as well as the media, the IPCS has contributed considerably to the strategic discourse in India.

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