ABSTRACT
This paper explores relationships between the globalization of knowledge and religiously inspired or justifi ed confl ict in Indonesia. It builds on theoretical approaches to the study of religious extremism and collective violence developed by Juergensmeyer, Lawrence, Tambiah, and Herman.1 Juergensmeyer describes acts of terror as “symbolic empowerment” of marginal men.2 Tambiah’s observations about collective violence in South Asia are equally applicable to Indonesia. The fi rst is that collective violence is often used as a tool by political elites. Second, the targets are frequently symbols of collective identity and third, rumors, often grotesque ones, play a major role in fomenting violence.3 Lawrence shows that most religious extremists are “secondary elites” most of whom have modern, primarily secular educations, but with little chance of attaining their social and economic goals.4 In an afterword to her classic study of psychological trauma, Trauma and Recovery, Herman extends her discussion of the psychological consequences of violence to social groups victimized by civil war and ethnic cleansing. These analyses provide valuable insight into the social psychology of today’s Indonesia.
