Buddhist Extremism Phenomenon in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand and the Role of New Media

Abstract

Abstract
The objectives of this article include to explore the phenomenon of Buddhist Extremism in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand; and to analyse the role of new media in diffusing the concept of Buddhist Extremism in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. The qualitative research using documentary research was adopted to explore this phenomenon.
It is found that the phenomenon of Buddhist Extremism is related to four groups including Bodhu Bala Sena in Sri Lanka, Ma Ba Tha in Myanmar, and World Alliance of Buddhist Leaders (WABL) as well as Buddhist Assembly of each province in Thailand. The acts of violence can be founded in three forms – physical, beliefs, and rhetoric. New media, especially social media, is the significant communication channel to diffuse the concept of Buddhist Extremism, false information and fake news. The change in media landscape empowers users or consumers to be easily create and share false information. More importantly, the technological development of digital media brings about filter bubbles and echo chambers. Thus, information they received will affirm their pre-existing confirmation biases among Buddhists towards Islam as they do not receive other sets of information which are filtered out by the algorithm. The biases are the result from the lack of understanding on the diversity of religions and culture. The segregation between “us” and “them” leads to the otherness, bringing about the difficulty to learn and accept the diversity of the societies. Therefore, the multicultural society is essential to build up the belief in diversity that can be a tool to help individuals to select, expose and distribute news and information, which can be incorrect, to their social circles. This therefore will help reducing the diffusion of Buddhist Extremism concept in our societies.

Keyword: Buddhist Extremism, New Media, Fake News