Europe's Cold Shoulder
Research studies on Indonesia in Europe have reached a dramatic low, particularly in the Netherlands and France. The KITLV, the oldest and the world's most significant research center on Indonesia, is near bankruptcy. The School of Indonesian language and literature at the University of Leiden was forcibly shut down due to a severe lack of student interest. Questions have been raised as to what triggered this cold-shoulder treatment.
November 16, 2011
Details in a Treasure Trove
French researchers considered Indonesia a cross-cultural treasure trove. In the past, Islam in Indonesia was seen as unique, with characteristics that differed from the Islam practiced in the Middle East. Now as an Arabized Islam gains strength here, Islam here has lost that quality which once was unrivaled. The few French researchers who remain here continue to work toward deciphering the past.
THE noon sun shone bright
...