[Nettime-nl] 18 april Cyberasia Part 2: Asian Cyberfundamentalism

[Geert Lovink <geert@xs4all.nl>]

> From: Floor van Spaendonck <floor@waag.org>
>
> 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@waag.org
> For more information: Dr. Jeroen de Kloet (moderator, IIAS) 
> b.j.dekloet@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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