UC (4/25) – Amid rising global and national tensions pushing the world toward new forms of division, the Inter-Religious Studies Doctoral Program (PhD in IRS), supported by the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), organized an Unconference themed “Polarization and Its Discontent in the Global South: Mitigation Measures, Strategies and Policies.” The event was held on April 24th – 25th 2025, at UC Hotel, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta.
This event served as a meeting ground for thinkers, activists, and practitioners from various regions of the Global South—such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Its main goal was to understand the growing entrenchment of polarization in society and to formulate locally grounded strategies and policies to mitigate its effects.
Polarization is no longer a peripheral issue—it has become a social reality affecting everyday life, from politics and the economy to the digital space. Indonesia’s democratic crisis, recently referred to as the “Dark Indonesia” condition. It has been compounded by post-election political dynamics, reflecting the complexity of these challenges. A prominent topic discussed was the controversy surrounding elected President Prabowo’s plan to accept 1,000 Palestinian refugees, amidst a society still recovering from socio-political unrest.
The event featured several notable figures who have long worked to confront polarization and social crises.
From Indonesia, Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir—academic, human rights and religious freedom activist, and Chief of the IRS Doctoral Program—highlighted how religion is often used as a political tool to deepen polarization. He emphasized the importance of inclusive religious narratives as a remedy for identity-based conflict. Dr. Dicky Sofjan, a scholar of public ethics and interfaith dialogue and a faculty member of the IRS Program, stressed the urgency of strengthening civil space and collective ethics to counter social disintegration.
From abroad, Daniel Medina of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), Colombia, shared reflections from his country’s peacebuilding experience. From Brazil, Ana Evangelista (ISER) explored strategies used by civil society to encounter class and racial polarization. Meanwhile, Keamogetswe Seipato of Digital Africa, South Africa, addressed the narrative battles within digital spaces and the importance of digital inclusion as a new arena of struggle in the post-truth era.
Unlike conventional academic conferences, this Unconference emphasized a participatory and collaborative approach. Participants played an active role in shaping discussion agendas, sharing experiences, and building cross-country and cross-disciplinary networks.
Some of the unique characteristics of this Unconference included: Participant Empowerment: Attendees could propose discussion topics directly during the event. Horizontal Exchange of Ideas: Dialogue was built on equality, not hierarchy. Relaxed and Open Atmosphere: Conversations flowed in an environment that encouraged honesty and deep reflection. Mobility and Flexibility: Participants were free to move between sessions based on their interests. Community Building: Designed to foster ongoing collaborative networks after the event.
Providing a starting framework, the organizers established four main clusters as focal points for the two-day discussion:
First cluster: Religion-Based Political Polarization, exploring religion used as a political tool that exacerbates social division and reinforces identity-based exclusivity. This cluster examined the experiences of various countries in confronting religious politicization and crafting more inclusive alternative narratives.
Second Cluster: Polarization and Environmental Justice, focused on the relationship of environmental crises, public policy, and social inequality. Polarization arises when access to natural resources and environmental decision-making is unequal and neglects marginalized communities.
Third cluster: Gender, Polarization, and Social Justice, highlighted the experiences of women and other vulnerable groups in facing social exclusion and identity-based violence. This cluster also explored how social movements respond to gender-based polarization.
Fourth cluster: Digital Inclusion for Minority Groups, discussed the challenges of information access and representation in the digital world for marginalized groups. Polarization in the digital sphere can reinforce discrimination and misinformation but also offers new spaces for amplifying community voices.
Author: Arni Wistriatun