CSIS-GRIPS-RSIS Policy Research Network on Contemporary Southeast Asia (PRN-SEA) Webinar

This webinar will be hosted by CSIS Indonesia on Zoom and YouTube. Please note that there are only 100 slots for Zoom and admission will be on a first-come first-served basis.

Click here to watch the webinar on YouTube Live.

Abstract

Responding to violent extremism is a national effort and the role of the state becomes critical. This is a study of four Southeast Asian states (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore) which have responded to violent extremism in their respective countries. Violent extremism in this study refers to the violent religious (Islamic) extremist actions which took place in recent years. The focus is to examine the state’s capacity to respond to violent extremism, thereby revealing the similarities and differences of the responses and relations to the state’s success.

About the Speakers

Takeshi Kohno is currently Professor of political science, studying terrorism and transnational issues, at Toyo Eiwa University, a premier women’s university in Japan.  Previously he was Special Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme Headquarters in New York.  He earned his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University’s political science department after earning an MA from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio and BA from Doshisha University, Kyoto. His English publications include, “The Political Background of Islamic Education Institutions and the Reach of the State in Southeast Asia.” Studia Islamika (2009), “The Japanese Civilian Participation in Maritime Security in Asia.” Sam Bateman and Joshua Ho eds, Southeast Asia and Rise of Chinese and Indian Naval Power. Routledge, 2010.

Jamhari Makruf is the Vice Rector of Indonesian International Islamic University (IIIU) Jakarta and an advisor of PPIM (Center for the Study of Islam and Society). He obtained a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the Australian National University in 2000. In 2014, he was awarded a Miegunyah Distinguished Fellow by the University of Melbourne, and in 2015 he received a commendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for his contribution in bridging mutual understanding of people with different religion and faith. Professor Jamhari is a prolific researcher on Islam and society with a focus on the consolidation of democracy in Indonesia. He facilitates the interdisciplinary research activities of PPIM UIN Jakarta, which are designed to enhance mutual understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim. Currently, he is also the Team Leader of Convey (Countering Violence Extremism for youth) a collaborative project between PPIM and UNDP Indonesia (started in 2016- until now). PPIM is an autonomous research center of Syarif Hidyatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta. The Mission of PPIM is to develop, preserve and enhance moderate and progressive understanding of Islam in Indonesia through the advancement of academic excellence in research, policy studies, and publication on Islam and other socio-religious and political development.

Kamarulnizam Abdullah is Professor in National Security at the School of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). He received his PhD from Lancaster University, UK; MA (International Relations) from the Australian National University, and Bachelor of Science (Political Science) from the University of Utah, USA. His areas of research focus on terrorism, political violence and religious militancy. Among his latest publications are: “Political Islam and Democracy in Malaysia,” (author, 2019, Secularism, Religion and Democracy in Southeast Asia, Oxford University Press and ‘Malaysia: Adapting to the Dynamic Changes of Terrorist Threats.’ (co- author, 2019, Non-Western Responses to Terrorism, Manchester University Press). He has been appointed in various governmental and international consultative committee such as member of Expert Panel Committee, Malaysia’s White Paper on Defence; Home Ministry’s Rehabilitation, De-radicalization and Counter-Terrorism Programs as well as for the Formulation of Home Security Policy; and Steering Committee for the establishment of National Defence University Malaysia (UPNM). He is also country Coordinator for the International Civilization Dialogue and Religious Understanding Program, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman; Chairman, Curriculum Development Council, Institute of Diplomacy Timor Leste.

Norshahril Saat (PhD) is Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Regional Social and Cultural Studies Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. In June 2015 he was awarded his doctorate in International, Political and Strategic Studies by the Australian National University (ANU). He has written several books such as The State, Ulama, and Islam in Malaysia and Indonesia; Tradition and Islamic Learning: Singapore Students in the Al-Azhar University; and Islam in Southeast Asia: Negotiating Modernity. His articles have been published in journals such as the Hawwa: Journal of Women of the Middle East and the Islamic World, Asian Journal of Social Science, The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life, Review of Indonesian and Malaysian Affairs, and Studia Islamika.

Julkipli M. Wadi is Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines. Former dean of the UP-Institute of Islamic Studies where he serves for two terms. He writes generally about Islamic thought and politics. He follows major issues on contemporary Islam and Muslim society, the Philippines and the Muslim world, Political Islam, and Mindanao peace process. He is a member of Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) and Research Association of Islamic Social Sciences (RAISS). He writes a column “Crucible” at MindaNews, a media online based in Davao.