This research article, published in Observatoire International du Religieux, explores how Indonesia balances religious diversity through state-led efforts alongside vibrant grassroots interfaith activism.

The government’s moderasi beragama (religious moderation) policy promotes tolerance via support for “moderate” religious institutions. However, it can feel overly formalistic and top-down. In contrast, interfaith activists emphasise that true pluralism and moderation emerge through lived dialogue, shared experiences, and relational ethics, not rigid state definitions. Their local initiatives reveal the limitations of prescriptive moderation and the importance of community-driven coexistence.

The full article is available in English here, and in French here.