Indonesia has been able to emerge from years of difficult dictatorship and from the grip of the financial crisis of the late 90s, persisting with the development of its coexistence model able to peacefully contain the divergent social movements and the emergence of radical Islam. Overall, the country presents a current, resulting positive balance with many bright prospects, although not without its fair share of shadows. These issues are discussed in our dossier by Emanuele Giordana, who paints a wide and complex picture of the country’s situation, and Paolo Affatato who interviews Ahmad Syafil Maarif, leader of the Muhammadiyah – Indonesia’s second most important Islamic organization – and gives an analysis on political Islam and pluralism.

Credit: Go Chai Hin