The workshop is to be organised for two objectives: strengthening the co-operation between civil society organisations in Asia for peace and security, and preparing the Asian contribution for the Asia-Europe People’s Forum that will take place in Beijing in October 2008. More precisely, the workshop is to be held for two following targets:

1. Identifying the reasons of the rise of religion-based political movements and their consequences on the national development based on Human Rights, and formulating recommendations on the matter for the actors of development, especially the civil society organisations and the government agencies.

2. Disseminating the result of the workshop to the public through publication.

Religion-based political movements are not new in the history of social change in Asia. During the colonial period, they played an important role in social work for the emancipation of the people as well as in liberation movement for the national independence. In the postcolonial era, they participated in the nation building through social work as well as political parties. Under the dictatorship or other types of repressive regime, they participated in the opposition and in getting rid of the power. In the democratic era, they participated in national development through diverse ways, including political parties.

Attachments:

The Rise of Religion

[A Threat or a Chance for National Development? Preparatory Workshop for the ASEM People’s Forum Beijing October 2008, University Utara Malaysia Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia July 16, 17 and 18, 2008]

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