Country Seminar Germany/Indonesia

“Democracy in danger? The role of the churches before and after the political elections in Indonesia and Germany”

7 September 2024, 9am – 12pm (CEST)

Online Registration Here

Elections in Indonesia:

Former general Prabowo Subianto won the Indonesian presidential election in February 2024 with a clear majority and will take over from incumbent President Joko Widodo in October. Democracy is “very tiring”, “very chaotic” and “very expensive”, the future head of state claimed to Indonesian investors back in March 2024. The 72-year-old portrayed himself as a cuddly uncle on TikTok during the election campaign and created an avatar for himself with the help of artificial intelligence. Through social networks and media, the incumbent Defense Minister won the votes of the young electorate, which helped him and the vice-presidential candidate Gibran Rakaburning Raka (36), son of President Joko Widodo, to victory.

Elections in Germany:

The right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AFD) is gaining popularity in Germany and could emerge as the second strongest political force in the 2025 federal elections. The party represents racist and right-wing extremist positions, and three of its regional associations are classified as definitely right-wing extremist. The party pursues the approach of making racist ideas increasingly socially acceptable and receives support from the right-wing extremist scene.

The Role of the Churches:

What role does the church play in the face of such anti-democratic currents? Together with international speakers and participants, we will shed light on the situation and tasks of the churches in the political elections in Indonesia and Germany.

Cordial invitation!

The seminar will take place online as a Zoom event in English language.

Program: (CEST)

09:00 am         Welcome and Devotion
                        Dr. Dyah Krismawati, Head of the UEM Asia and Germany Division

09:15 am         Round of introductions

09:30 am         Democracy in Indonesia after the election of Prabowo Subianto as future President -
                        A relapse into authoritarian political structures? 
                        Prof. Angel Damayanti

                        Discussion

10:15 am         Break

10:30 am         What influence do we have? Church and right-wing populism ahead of the 2025 federal elections
                        Henning Flad

                        Discussion

11:15 am         Breakout sessions

11:45 am         Presentations from the breakout sessions

12:00 pm         Closing

Speakers:

Prof. Angel Damayanti, Ph.D., Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Christian University of Indonesia (UKI), Jakarta, Indonesia
Henning Flad, Project Manager, Federal Working Group on Church and Right-Wing Extremism, Berlin, Germany

Registration:

Registration Deadline: 29 August 2024

Please register here

The seminar is free of charge. Donations are appreciated.
You can donate online here:https://www.vemission.org/en/donation/donate

Preparatory team:

Chair:  Kristina Neubauer, Partnership Officer, UEM

Claudio Gnypek, Regional Service of UEM

Claudia Latzel-Binder, oikus Institute for Mission and Ecumenism, Evangelical Church of Westphalia (EkvW)

Irma Simanjuntak, Officer of Advocacy Program, UEM

This is a UEM event.

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