Dissertation Proposal Defense: Mefi Ruthvianna Geary - An Insight Analysis of the Disengagement of Radicals in Indonesia

An Insight Analysis of the Disengagement of Radicals in Indonesia

Tuesday, April 19th
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Metropolitian Buildling, Room 5183

Submitted by Mefi Ruthviana Geary

Committee:
James R. Price (chair), Research Professor, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Julie Shedd, Associate Dean, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Al Fuertes, Associate Professor, School of Integrative Studies

I propose to use the Insight approach to conflict analysis and resolution to understand what makes (formerly) radicalized Indonesians change their minds about engaging in terrorist activities and decide instead to rejoin the community. Over the last decade, West Java has become a terrorist hotbed in Indonesia. Recent attacks and arrests in West Java raise two sets of questions. First, what events or circumstances prompted these individuals to decide that violent, terrorist acts were the best response? What were they trying to achieve? What images of self or society motivated their performance of valuing and deciding? What institutional roles – and what cultural and political narratives – set the horizon for their decision-making? Second, what events and circumstances prompted some of these same individuals to change their minds: to decide that violent, terrorist acts were not the best course of action after all? What did they decide to do instead? What led them to reevaluate their prior decision? What are they now trying to achieve? What images of self or society motivate their new performances of valuing and deciding? What institutional roles – and what cultural and political narratives – now set the horizon for their decision-making? To carry out my proposed research, I will conduct Insight conversation with twenty-three people, each of whom has agreed to speak with me. My list of Insight research subjects includes twenty-one males and two females.