ABSTRACT
The security of ethnic communities has become a major concern for policymakers worldwide. Development programs and policies constitute a set of instruments by which Canada and its international partners are seeking to reduce the incidence of ethnic conflict. Religious identity is one aspect of what is understood by ethnicity, which is conceived broadly to include some sense of common origin and cultural distinctiveness. The conflicts between Muslims and Christians in both countries are specifically analyzed as cases to draw more general insights on impact of good governance strategies and security of ethnic communities. In many areas of Indonesia with Muslim majorities, Christians repeatedly complained of local resistance to establishment of churches or places of worship. In Eastern Indonesia, where many regions have a majority or near majority of Christians, the trends were interpreted as a growing repression and threat. The chapter analyzes sources of conflict between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia and the Philippines in relation to problems of governance.
