The following participants will be making presentations at the symposium on "Ethno-racial, religious identity and political formation in Indonesia: Prospects for an equitable and just civil society" , to be held in Hart House Music Room, on Thursday, May 27th , from 9:30 am-12 noon, sponsored by the Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies, York/University of Toronto and Dept of Anthropology, U. of Toronto.
Introduction: Prof. Mitch Bernard (JCAPS)
Prof. Daniel Lev, (Government & Political Science), The University of Washington, Seattle, USA: Prof Lev has spent over 30 years engaged in research in Indonesia, principally on the role of law and the legal system in Indonesian politics and society, from the era of Sukarno and "Guided Democracy" to the present. His presentation will focus on the conditions of the Sukarno period which helped to shape Pram's work and career and the subsequent events in Pram's life.
Prof. Jacques Bertrand: (Political Science), University of Toronto. Prof Bertrand specialises in the recent history of both Indonesia and the Philippines, with special reference to the internal ethnic and religious formations in both countries and their relevance for current political events. He will be describing some of the principal features of the Orde Baru under Suharto, leading up to the recent events, and Pram's experiences during this period.
Prof. Judith Nagata (Social Anthropology), York University, Toronto. Prof Nagata's main interests lie in issues of the politics of ethnic and religious identity in Southeast Asia, with special emphasis on social/religious movements within Islam, Buddhism and Christianity in the region. Drawing on the recent (post-Independence) Indonesian experience, she will try to show, that in contrast to popular ideas that ethnic and religious identities and sentiments are innate and "primordial", rather these are often created and shaped by political interests and ideology (which may be inconveniently revealed by such writers as Pramoedya). .
Prof. David Wurfel (Emeritus) (Political Science) (University of Windsor). Prof Wurfel has extensive research experience in Southeast Asia, with particular interest in local politics, popular movements and human rights (especially in the Philippines and Vietnam). He will serve as a a discussant, and comment on the state of democracy, human rights and labour etc. so as to present Indonesia in a more comparative regional perspective.
Each speaker will confine their presentations to approximately 15 minutes to allow time for interventions and discussions from the audience and for a response from Pramoedya himself.
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