SPRING 2012 CSEAS SPEAKER SERIES
A Presentation by Dian Abdul Hamed Shah, a doctoral candidate at the Duke University Law School

Constitutionalization of Rights in Severely Divided Societies: A Comparative Perspective
Location: Tokioka Room, Moore 319; UHM
Monday, February 27, 12:00 P.M.

Severely divided societies are societies divided across national, ethnic, racial, religious or linguistic lines, where ethnic identities have a high degree of salience, and where there is history of inter-group antipathy. The existence of hostility and potential for violent conflict in such societies, as well as the tendency to exclude minorities, pose a significant challenge for fundamental rights, the protection of which is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy. The task of ensuring that rights are protected and respected is also complicated by the fact that ethnicity and religion are both politically salient and jealously guarded to protect inter-ethnic sensitivities. This session will offer a critical insight into the state of human rights in these societies, by explaining several controversial cases that highlight the conundrum between commitments to fundamental rights on the one hand, and maintaining order and preventing conflict on the other. The focus will be on comparing domestic constitutional discourses, especially on the role of “public order” in restricting rights in divided societies, and how ethnic politics may affect the metes and bounds of rights. This comparative project yields interesting insights into the patterns of judicial policies, governmental practices, and socio-political dynamics on these issues.

Dian Shah is a doctoral candidate at Duke University Law School. She graduated with an LL.B (Warwick University) and an LL.M (Duke University) in 2008 and 2009 respectively. She previously taught at the University of Malaya, where she remains a Fellow. Her research interests span the fields of comparative constitutional law and design, and international human rights, with a focus on ethnically divided societies. She has worked on issues ranging from national security and personal liberty, to religious freedom and freedom of expression. Her most recent publications include “Freedom of Religion in Malaysia: A Tangled Web of Legal, Political, and Social Issues” (with Azizuddin Sani, in North Carolina Journal of International Law), and “Religious Freedom in Malaysia: Debates on Norms and Politico-legal Issues” (book chapter, October 2011).

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
For more information, please contact The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at cseas@hawaii.edu.

William S. Richardson School of Law, & Muslim Societies in Asia and the Pacific (MSAP)

Print PDF

SPRING 2012 CSEAS SPEAKER SERIES

Democratizing Urban Development: Community-Managed Microfinance and Slum Upgrading in Surabaya
Location: Tokioka Room, Moore 319; UHM
Friday, February 17, 12:00 P.M.

SEA Speaker Series- Das 02-2012

“Microfinance has emerged as a powerful poverty alleviation idea and tool in the developing world. A multitude of actors/institutions are involved in microfinance – from community revolving credit associations to formal NGOs and banks. By using microfinance to support other urban development initiatives (integrated microfinance), such as comprehensive slum upgrading, urban planners and policymakers are keen on leveraging microfinance’s touted potential and transforming this hitherto standalone development tool (minimalist). This fits well with the larger neoliberal shifts, such as decentralization and participation, which have significantly altered planning and development in much of the non-western world. This research analyzes the microfinance component, managed by formal community-based organizations (CBOs), of a comprehensive slum upgrading program (CKIP) in Surabaya, Indonesia. While Indonesia has the world’s oldest and largest network of public financial institutions providing microfinance as well as a strong tradition of small women’s microfinance groups, CBO-managed microfinance integrated with slum upgrading is quite recent. In Indonesia’s post-decentralization environment, the CKIP is a local government-supported but community-led program in which CBOs manage a community revolving fund. There is yet limited evidence that explains how community-managed microfinance fares as an integrated component of slum upgrading. This research aims to further our understanding in that regard. Using multi-method analysis I find that the microfinance performance in CKIP is independent of physical upgrading success. Factors such as project design and size, the composition and expertise of CBOs, the emphasis on savings, the levels of guidance and targeting provided by the local government, community cohesiveness, as well as the broader socio-political context tend to impact microfinance’s efficacy. To be an effective development catalyst microfinance must respond to the uniqueness of local institutions and communities.”

Dr. Ashok Das was trained as a planner and an architect. He received his PhD in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Department of Urban Planning, School of Public Affairs (now the Luskin School of Public Affairs). He has Master of Architecture and MA in Environmental Planning & Management degrees from Kansas State University, and Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Prior to coming to UH Manoa he taught at the San Francisco State University. Broadly, Dr. Das’s research explores challenges to and innovations in ameliorating urban poverty in developing countries, primarily in South and Southeast Asia. Community participation and empowerment, slum upgrading and low-income housing, decentralization and local governance, and the role of civil society in development are among his key interests. Dr. Das’s doctoral work in Urban Planning at UCLA explored the nature, measurement, and comparison of empowerment arising from participation in slum upgrading programs in post-decentralization India and Indonesia. His new research seeks to explore community-managed integrated microfinance for urban poverty alleviation, and local government-led and community-based efforts towards disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
For more information, please contact The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at cseas@hawaii.edu.

Print PDF

* The Minangkabau Response to Dutch Colonial Rule in the Nineteenth Century

Print PDF

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 @ 6:30 PM
Korean Studies Auditorium

Director: Benni Setiawan
Writer: Benni Setiawan
Cast: Reza Rahadian, Laura Basuki, Arumy Bachsin

Rosid (Reza Rahadian) is a young idealist obsessed with becoming a renowned poet. To achieve this, he must deal with Mansur (Rasyid Karim), his nagging and irritable father. As it turns out, Rosid’s artistic lifestyle ends up bringing him a blessing. Delia (Laura Basuki), a sweet girl, is drawn to Rosid. From the beginning their relationship is fated to be difficult. Rosid is from an Indonesian Muslim family of Arab descent who still keep the traditions of their ancestors—whereas Delia was born into a family of devout Christians.

Rosid and Delia are very rational in addressing their differences. But the parents of the star-crossed lovers look for ways to end Rosid and Delia’s budding romance. Indeed, the love between Rosid and Delia is very strong, but so are the challenges they face.

The film shows the beauty of romantic love, and it also captures how religion, religious conservatism, inter-religous relationships, and identity are negotiated in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world.

Adapted from the best-selling novel by Ben Sohib, 3 Hati, Dua Dunia, Satu Cinta won Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Script Adaptation, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Art Director at the 2010 Indonesian Film Festival.

Distributor: jive! collection

Print PDF

West Sumatran Minangkabau Traditions: A Randai Theatre Performance and Illustrated Lecture by Edy Utama

Shangri La, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
4055 Papu Circle
Honolulu, HI 96816

Saturday, February 4, 2012
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Open House
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Concert/Lecture
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Refreshments

West Sumatran Minangkabau culture is the result of a long process of dialogue between various world cultures with a matrilineal kinship system in combination with Islamic religion. This salon focuses on elements of Minangkabau culture beginning with dance and musical selections from the Randai theatre production The Genteel Sabai performed by students from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Theatre and Dance Department. Sumatran Minang cultural expert, scholar, and photographer Edy Utama, will follow the performance with an illustrated talk, Contemporary West Sumatran Minangkabau Traditions with the aid of interpreter, Rohayati Paseng. The talk will focus on the characteristics that make up this unique culture and the ways in which the culture is changing due to pressure from the Indonesian government and an increasingly westernized world.

$15 per person
Register Now!

Please note there is no parking at Shangri La or in the surrounding neighborhood. Access to Shangri La is by shuttle van only.
Van service to Shangri La will begin at 1:15 p.m. from the Kapi’olani Community College, parking lot B.

The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art is to promote the study and understanding of Islamic arts and cultures. In the context of the increasing tension between the U.S. and the Muslim world, DDFIA plays a unique role in the growing dialogue among scholars, artists and the public about how to help cultivate mutual understanding.

Print PDF

INDONESIAN RANDAI THEATRE AT UHM: INSIGHTS INTO THE ADAPTATION AND REHEARSAL PROCESS

Professor Pauka and some of her collaborators will share insights into the rehearsal and production process of training and performing Randai theatre from West Sumatra. This is the third Randai production Pauka has directed in the Department of Theatre at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; UHM is the only place outside of Indonesia where audiences can see Randai theatre. 

This Spring, the UHM’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents the rare theatre form of Randai with its production of “The Genteel Sabai,” a folk dance-drama from the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Randai comes from the Minangkabau ethic group in Sumatra, and features beautiful traditional music and singing, martial arts, dance and acting; and its signature pants-slapping percussion!

Kirstin Pauka is a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is uniquely suited to the career of director, performer, scholar and most especially teacher of Asian and cross-cultural theatre.

For more information on The Genteel Sabai, times, and performance dates, please follow this link.

Print PDF