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ast month Indonesia hosted the ninth Bali Democracy Forum focusing on the theme “religion, pluralism and democracy”. With ministers and ambassadors representing 95 countries and preceded by a civil society and media dialogue, the forum concluded that all major world religions, including Islam, are compatible with pluralism and democracy.

At a time when extremists and bigots — whether Islamist or anti-Muslim — would tell us otherwise, the forum highlighted that more than 60 percent of the world’s Muslims are citizens of democracies. The forum showcased the fact that in these emerging democracies, Muslim communities around the world are able to debate ideas, cope with differences and strive to uphold the rule of law.

Indonesia’s role as the host of the Bali Democracy Forum is significant. As the world’s third largest democracy and with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia is showing the way. Despite many challenges, support for extremism in Indonesia is lower than elsewhere. Estimates indicate that around 800 Indonesians have joined Daesh in the Middle East. Drawn from 220 million Muslims, in relative times this is amongst the smallest contingent globally.

This is not to say that Indonesia does not have challenges — it does. Just one year ago we saw a terrorist attack on the streets of Jakarta; and in the run-up to Christmas and New Year, the Indonesian police carried out a string of arrests to disrupt extremist groups. Indonesia needs to remain vigilant. Nevertheless there are lessons to be drawn from Indonesia’s experience.

First is the role of the national ideology “Pancasila” (the five founding principles) and the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity). These concepts underpin the efforts of Indonesia’s leaders to build an inclusive political culture — a political culture that doesn’t require integration to one dominant identity, but rather attempts to bring Indonesia’s diverse ethnicities and religions together around the concept of what it means to be Indonesian. Despite opposition from extremist groups, these concepts enjoy almost universal support amongst Indonesia’s political parties, religious groups, and civil society.

Second is the role of civil society. Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), with an estimated 70 million members between them, play an active role in the day-to-day life of Indonesia’s Muslims. They tend not only to spiritual needs in mosques and Islamic educational institutions, but also work to empower women, tackle climate change and promote livelihoods.

This combination of the spiritual and the practical gives them relevance and credibility not only with the communities they serve but also in working at a policy level with government.

As countries around the world, including in Europe, struggle to cope with extremism, it is clear that building inclusive and open political cultures and empowering civil society are essential. In and of themselves, this will not stop all terrorist crimes, but it will minimize the space for extremists and create resilience amongst communities.

Extremism is flourishing in many corners of the world in part because of the simplicity of the message. It is easy to blame others or to insist on the supremacy of a single world view. Countering such narrow ideologies requires political and religious leaders to challenge the extremist message head-on as well as to promote a compelling vision of the benefits of inclusion.

Building on discussions during visits by the former prime minister David Cameron to Jakarta in July 2015 and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to London in April 2016, we are encouraging links between British and Indonesian Muslim groups so that they can share experiences, learn from each other and find new ways to collaborate. With around three million British Muslims — almost 5 percent of the UK population, there is much that we can learn from these partnerships.

Over the last year, the British Embassy has signed Memoranda of Understanding with Muhammadiyah and NU; supported links between Muslim colleges and community groups so that they can debate and share their understanding of religious teachings; and piloted placements of British Muslim students in Muslim boarding schools and Islamic universities so that they can teach English, share their experiences as minorities in a western country and also learn from what is going on here in Indonesia. In December 2016, we facilitated a first visit by a group of Afghan religious leaders and peace activists — both men and women, Shia and Sunni — to meet counterparts and draw lessons from Indonesia.

Indonesia’s constitution enshrines the ideas of pluralism and diversity — different religious and ethnic groups brought together regardless of their differences. This more than anything else is the key tool for Muhammadiyah, NU and others in the fight against extremism, violence and “takfiri” beliefs.  

Drawing on the legacy of the Bali Democracy Forum, Indonesia’s government, civil society and religious scholars have the potential to become international leaders. If active and successful, Indonesia could help many countries around the world tackle the challenge of extremism. If unsuccessful, there remains every risk that extremist ideas from abroad may spread in Indonesia and threaten its proud record as the world’s third largest democracy.
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The writer is British Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste.