Religion and Conflict in South(east) Asia: Insights from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar

Religion plays a highly contested role in the politics of South and Southeast Asia today. A Hindutvaisation of Indian politics, Islamic extremist killings of secular activists and members of religious minorities in Bangladesh, and the widely accepted persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar highlight the diverse mechanisms by which state and societal actors use and misuse religion. Often, conflicts over the role of religion escalate into violence, with the potential to destabilize the region in the years to come.

The GIGA Talk will examine the current developments of religious discrimination, nationalism, radicalization and violence in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. As Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist majority countries, all three cases exhibit different trends, but their geographic proximity also results in overlapping challenges. The three panelists will explore the sources of religious conflicts, and discuss how states and other actors can avoid radicalization and violent escalation.

Introduction and moderation: Dr. Hannes Ebert, Research Fellow at the GIGA

Speakers: Saiful Haque, Founder & President, MOVE Foundation, Bangladesh and currently Visiting Fellow at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies

Medha, Research Fellow and Doctoral Student at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies

Richard Roewer, Research Fellow and Doctoral Student at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies

Discussant: Sven Hansen, Asia Editor at taz - die Tageszeitung

Please confirm your attendance by 12 December 2016 by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

See also: GIGA Focus Asien 8/2016 "India a Home Only to Hindus? New Refugee Policy Exacerbates Tensions."

Unfortunately, the venue is not wheelchair accessible.