Rethinking the Secular

Religious difference has been posited as a crucial factor in international conflicts and increasingly challenges existing political settlements that define the relationship between the state and religion. Considering the ways in which politics and religion currently intersect one may argue that religion has become an increasingly important consideration in global politics. In this paper, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na`im discusses his ideas on Islam and the secular state as presented during the Plura...

The Hidden Dimension of the Secular.

Humanists should reconsider their often anti-religious stance, argue Henk Manschot and Caroline Suransky, researchers of the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme at the University for Humanistics. There is a special relationship between modernity, secularism and humanism. However, the project of modernity has increasingly come under siege. Therefore, modern humanism too is challenged to rethink its own relationship with modernity and secularism.

Instruments for Promoting Pluralism

Pro-pluralism activists in Indonesia tend to be too elitist and limit themselves to intellectual discussions, Farid Wajidi argues. In this working paper, he suggests that the pluralism movement needs to develop new strategies that could also reach common people, youth in particular. As an example, he describes the efforts of the NGO LKiS to create youth communities where high school students can personally experience pluralism instead of only talking about it.

Uganda Riots Revisited.

Violent confrontations rocked Kampala in September 2009. This interview with knowledge programme coordinators Emily Drani and John De Coninck sheds light on the background of the unrest and its possible implications for the work of the pluralism knowledge programme in Uganda.

Apply now! International Summer School on Pluralism and Development

As part of the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme, Hivos supports this Summer School for young academics and civil society activists from India, Indonesia and Uganda. Are you interested in learning more about human development theories? Did you always lack the time to reflect on your own work in development? Are you curious how you can contribute to the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme? Apply now for participation in the Kosmopolis Summer School!

Bridging theory and practice. Summer School participants reflect on month of learning and engagement

What happens when a group of Indians, Indonesians, Ugandans and Dutch – as different as can be - are locked up in a classroom for a month to talk about identity, religion, human rights and development? Read how it had an impact on how people think, work and relate to their social and political environment after going back to normal life – one month after the Yogyakarta Summer School.

How I see the Uganda riots

‘My argument is very simple, by virtue of demographic dictates; any development discourse that leaves out the voices of young people is likely to backfire’. Ambrose Kibuuka, linked to the Pluralism Knowledge Programme through the Yogyakarta Summer School, argues for more serious engagement with Ugandan youth.

Pluralism mapped in Indonesia

The study by Zainal Bagir (Centre for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies, Yogyakarta) provides a portrait of Indonesian Muslims in terms of their views and attitudes towards the 'other'. It also analyses the discourse of pluralism by the supporters and opponents of the idea. Lastly it reviews governmental policies with regard to religion, especially the freedom of religion.This mapping is expected to be the ground to build knowledge about pluralism in Indonesia further as well as guide us...

New Partner in Uganda

Hivos and Kosmopolis will cooperate with the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) to start up the Promotig Pluralism Knowledge Programme in East Africa. Starting from September 2008, CCFU will look for academics and practitioners that have experience and that are active in the field of pluralism. Together they will identify major themes and formulate the first research questions. Up to four mapping studies will be carried out. In the beginning of 2009, a permanent team of academics and...

Three papers on women & fundamentalisms

AWID, the Association for Women's Rights in Development, launched an initiative that focuses on fundamentalism in 2006. The project is entitled "Resisting and Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms: An advocacy-research project". It explores various forms of fundamentalism and the effects on the position, rights and freedoms of women. From all over the world, AWID has gathered examples from women organisations and activists about how they approached the situation in their own countr...