Two prominent Indonesian leaders will present “Indonesian Update 2010: Political Islam and Regional Autonomy” at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in the Heritage Room of the Holmes Student Center.
Professor Bahtiar Effendy, dean of the Social and Political Science Department at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta, will discuss Islam politics in his portion of the program.
A prominent leader of Muhammadiyah, the second largest mass religious organization in Indonesia, he received his doctorate in political science at Ohio State University. He has written extensively on issues related to politics and Islam, democracy and Indonesian politics in general. He is the author of the 2004 book, “Islam and the State in Indonesia,” which was based on his dissertation and published by Ohio University Press.
Ryaas Rasyid, a member of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s advisory board and formerly the country’s Minister of Regional Autonomy, will speak on regional autonomy issues. Rasyid received his master’s degree in political science from NIU in 1988. He went on to receive his doctorate from the University of Hawaii in 1994.
The lecture is co-sponsored by NIU’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Political Science Department and the Division of International Programs. During their time in the U.S., the two leaders are touring several universities with Southeast Asian Studies centers, including NIU, Ohio University and the University of Hawaii.
For more information, contact the center at (815) 753-1771.
