[spectre] 18th of april Cyberasia Part 2: Asian Cyberfundamentalism

[Floor van Spaendonck]

INVITATION
ASiA, IIAS, Leiden University and Waag Society organize
Cyberasia Part 2: Asian Cyberfundamentalism

Tuesday April 18, 20.00 – 22.00 hrs
Waag Society, Nieuwmarkt 4, Amsterdam
Entrance: free
Language: English
Livestream: http://connect.waag.org

The Dutch National Bureau for Intelligence and Security (AIVD) has  
recently declared the Internet to be a major force behind the  
emergence of religious fundamentalism in society, and indeed, radical  
religious groups around the globe eagerly employ new technologies to  
recruit new members, advocate their views and attack perceived  
enemies. Is this caused by, or at odds with, the perceived open and  
liberating character of the Internet? Is the AIVD’s anxiety towards  
the Internet perhaps rooted in an official dystopian view of new  
technologies as media that proliferate messages in an uncontrollable  
fashion? Of course, counterforces emerge as well, so is the medium  
itself of particular importance? Does the Internet change religion,  
and religion change the Internet? Starting from case studies of the  
fervent use that Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists make of the  
Internet, Asian Cyberfundamentalism focuses on these developments.  
Indian Internet activist Harsh Kapoor, Malyasian political scientist,  
academic and human rights activist Farish Noor and Dutch  
anthropologist of religion Peter van der Veer will discuss the  
fundamentalist uses of cyberspace and search for possible  
counterforces. This evening is moderated by Patricia Spyer from  
Leiden University and will present a unique view on the religious  
uses of the Internet, and provides a platform to discuss possible  
tactics of resistance, either online or offline.

Cyberasia is a series of three seminars that brings together Asian  
activists, academics and industry pioneers to reflect on contemporary  
political, religious and playful uses of new technologies. Together,  
they showcase the current state of Internet affairs in Asia, opening  
up a unique meeting ground beyond the “Western” world. The  
previous seminar of March 29 focused on the political uses of the  
Internet, while the third and last session on May 10 deals with Asian  
Cybergames.


The Speakers:
Dr. Farish (Badrol Hisham) Ahmad has been researching and writing on  
the phenomenon of political Islam and transnational religio-political  
and educational networks for several years. His research looks at the  
transnational networks and linkages between modern Islamic  
universities in Southeast and South Asia, raising questions about the  
concept of Islamic modernity as well as its global-political  
implications. Dr. Noor’s activist-related work and writings have  
focused on the issues of human rights, press freedom, the debate on  
secularism and democracy, as well as gender issues.
  Dr. Harsh Kapoor is a renowned Indian Internet activist, engaged in  
the defence of democracy and tolerance in South Asia. Initially  
trained as a sociologist, he has been interested in social  
implications of new technologies and their democratic use. He has  
helped set up the South Asia Citizens Web; a Web site that provides  
visibility to dissenting opinions from within South Asian civil  
society. He has also helped set up South Asians Against Nukes, a  
citizen's platform on the Net.
Prof. Dr. Peter van de Veer is university professor at the University  
of Utrecht and has published widely in the field of religion and  
nationalism in India, his current research focuses on the societal  
role of spirituality in India and China.
Prof. Dr. Patricia Spyer is professor of sociology and anthropology  
of contemporary Indonesia at Leiden University and specializes in the  
study of the role of old and new media in the processes of  
reformation in Indonesian society.

For reservation: reserveren at waag.org
For more information: Dr. Jeroen de Kloet (moderator, IIAS)  
b.j.dekloet at uva.nl
Livestream: http://connect.waag.org
IIAS: www.iias.nl

Asian Cyberfundamentalism is part of the project 'Towards a culture  
of open networks' this
lecture is being produced with the support of the European Union's EU-
India Economic Cross Cultural Programme.





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