Hanny Nadhirah

“Who gets to define Pancasila? Or more bluntly, siapa sih yang paling Pancasilais (who is the most Pancasilaist)? This question reminds us of Indonesia’s long history of monopolizing the interpretation of Pancasila, particularly under the Suharto regime, when it became an instrument of political control. Suharto’s famous claim, “Those who criticize me criticize Pancasila,” set the tone for silencing dissent and narrowing the space for diverse interpretations.

In response to this legacy and to reopen the conversation, a documentary film entitled “Pancasila is Me” was launched at the Unconference on Polarization and its Discontent in the Global South hosted by the Indonesian Consortium of Religious Studies (ICRS). Rather than offering a normative account of Pancasila’s importance of history, the film invites audiences to explore the multiple paradoxes that continue to shape its meaning in Indonesia’s evolving journey. read more

Rezza P. Setiawan
Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies

Polarization is so pervasive that it touches almost every aspect of our lives, including the issues of religion, environment, social, politics, and economy. Thus, polarization cannot be viewed separately from other interrelated issues, which requires scholars to observe its many aspects in order to understand the phenomenon.

ICRS’ (un)conference titled “Polarization and its Discontent in the Global South: Mitigation Measures, Strategies, and Policies” was held on 24–25 April 2025 at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. The discussion invited four speakers from diverse backgrounds: Daniel Medina from the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), Colombia; Ana Carolina Evangelista from the Institute of Studies on Religion (ISER), Brazil; Nicholas Adams from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; and Nurhuda Ramli from IMAN Research, Malaysia; with Dicky Sofjan from ICRS and Globethics moderating the discussion. This article will present polarization not as an isolated entity but as a complex phenomenon in entanglement with many other intersecting phenomena by highlighting several talking points of the plenary session speakers. read more

Anthon Jason

“In our community, we have our own understanding of energy. For us, energy can mean land. Land is energy, forest is energy. Whereas for the current government, with its energy transition concept, energy is reduced to electricity. This impoverishes the meaning of energy”. A simple explanation arising from awareness of how knowledge can be polarized. How does this polarization relate to environmental justice?

This article aims to capture the ideas discussed in two discussion sessions on April 25, 2025, the second day of the Unconference entitled Polarization and Its Discontent in the Global South. The first session was a plenary session on the topic “Cross-Country Conversations on Polarization of Narratives and Environmental Justice,” moderated by Zainal Abidin Bagir (ICRS) with three speakers. The first speaker was Al Ayubi (Cerah Foundation, Jakarta), the second speaker was Ana Carolina Evangelista (ISER, Brazil), and the third speaker was Jonathan Smith (CRCS UGM, Yogyakarta). The second session was a parallel session in the form of group discussions continuing the discussion in the plenary session on the theme of Polarization and Environmental Justice in the Global South and facilitated by Samsul Maarif (CRCS UGM). read more

Our doctoral program, Inter-religious Studies (IRS), and master program Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS) of postgraduate school Universitas Gadjah Mada has once again been ranked in the 51-100 range in the world in the Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies cluster in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. This is the third time the university has received this international recognition. Besides UGM, other universities in Indonesia that made it into the world ranking list are UIN Syarif Hidayatullah and Universitas Indonesia in the 101-150 world ranking range. read more

Rezza Prasetyo Setiawan

Decolonization is a collective effort that seeks to span many sectors, including the domain of law. On January 2, 2023, Indonesia legalized a new penal code (Undang-Undang nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana) which will come into effect on January 2, 2026. The new penal code (hereinafter referred to as KUHP 2023) will replace Wetboek van Strafrecht (WvS), a Dutch-constructed penal code which has long been the foundation for Indonesian criminal law.

Indonesian politics of religion and the related issues of religious freedom in Indonesia are tightly linked to the old penal code. The controversial Article 156a on religious blasphemy is often used as a tool to criminalize religious minorities. Currently, the seventh chapter of KUHP 2023, which includes Articles 300 to 305, specifically regulates matters related to religion or belief. Thus, changes brought by this recodification of the penal code garnered attention on how it would impact Indonesian politics of religion, specifically in matters of religious freedom. read more

Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang

Indonesia is currently facing a range of challenges that threaten its social and economic stability. Since the end of 2024, numerous events have pushed societal life to one of its lowest points in recent years. From a national leadership crisis, constitutional and legal manipulation, the weakening of the Rupiah, rising unemployment due to mass layoffs, to escalating political and social tensions, all have led the nation down a dark path, filled with uncertainty about a better future. The dream of Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia) 2045 seems more like a utopia when viewed against today’s circumstances. The terms Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) and Indonesia Cemas (Anxious Indonesia) are not mere expressions of pessimism, but rather a stark reflection of the crumbling foundations of national life, brought about by the capability of those in power who, ironically, emerged from a democratic process that is increasingly losing its meaning and integrity. read more