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A Lived Experience Well-Understood: What Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws Can Tell Us about Civic Learning in Higher Education Berebon, Charles
Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies Vol 26, No 2 (2023): Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/ijes.v26i2.71225

Abstract

 This article explores how Montesquieu’s theoretical response to the perceived dangers of modern commerce can inform contemporary approaches to teaching citizenship in higher education. I argue that a Montesquieu-inspired framework for civic learning, which emphasizes a thorough study of a nation’s constitutional and positive laws, would (1) require a foundational level of scientific and economic literacy to understand how recent innovations in commercial modernity might undermine the authority of these laws if left unregulated, and (2) foster an appreciation for the laws, customs, institutions, and practices that these same innovations threaten to erode. The article concludes with practical recommendations for cultivating resilient future stewards of our self-governing republic. I contend that universities must create learning environments that inspire students to pursue diverse forms of success and recognition, particularly by imposing significant restrictions on the use of electronic devices in classrooms.
Religion, Environmental Education, and Rewilding the Humanities Berebon, Charles
Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies Vol 27, No 1 (2024): Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/ijes.v27i1.71696

Abstract

The modern university often functions as an instrument of domestication, prioritizing the reinforcement of social and economic norms over the expansion of intellectual and imaginative frontiers. The Anthropocene epoch compels us to reimagine the humanities not as isolated, hierarchical disciplines but as foundational to understanding human existence and ethical responsibility within a more-than-human world. This essay advocates for restructuring the American academy in line with Mark C. Taylor’s vision of a multidisciplinary space dedicated to the “comparative analysis of common problems”. It proposes that religious traditions provide valuable frameworks for integrating the humanities (literature, philosophy, arts), social sciences (governance, law), and STEM fields. Furthermore, as society confronts unprecedented environmental, technological, and economic upheavals, engaging with religious texts becomes essential for critiquing the limitations of liberal ideologies ill-equipped to address the climate crisis. This paper introduces the concept of “rewilding” higher education, modeled after conservation principles, emphasizing three key tenets: creativity, curriculum, and collaboration. While focusing on the intersections of religion, ecology, and climate ethics, this approach has implications for all academic disciplines..
Communitarian Legal Pluralism (CLP) and the International Criminal Court (ICC): Toward a Hybrid Justice Model for Mass Atrocity Crimes Berebon, Charles
Jurnal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer Vol 13, No 1 (2025)
Publisher : dialektika kontemporer

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Abstract

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has long faced criticism for its perceived disconnect from the communities most affected by mass atrocities, with critiques centering on its Western-centric legal framework, punitive focus, and limited engagement with localized justice traditions. This paper proposes a transformative approach by applying Communitarian Legal Pluralism (CLP) to reconceptualize the ICC’s role in transitional justice. CLP, which recognizes the coexistence and legitimacy of multiple legal orders, offers a framework for integrating customary, Indigenous, and restorative justice mechanisms into international criminal proceedings. Through comparative analysis of case studies—including Rwanda’s gacaca courts, Uganda’s mato oput, and Colombia’s hybrid peace tribunals—we argue that a CLP-informed ICC could bridge the gap between global accountability and localized reconciliation. The study examines three key dimensions: (1) how subsidiarity principles could allow the ICC to defer to community-based justice where appropriate, while intervening only when local mechanisms fail to address grave human rights violations; (2) the potential for pluralist sentencing that incorporates reparative measures rooted in victims’ cultural norms; and (3) institutional reforms to enhance victim participation through culturally meaningful procedures. We demonstrate that such a hybrid model would not only strengthen the ICC’s legitimacy but also advance more sustainable post-conflict healing, as seen in cases where restorative practices outperformed retributive justice in fostering social cohesion. Challenges—including tensions between universal human rights standards and cultural relativism, as well as risks of elite capture in customary systems—are critically analyzed. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for a "pluralist complementarity" framework under the Rome Statute, urging the ICC to formally recognize CLP as a guiding principle for future interventions. By centering affected communities’ conceptions of justice, this approach reimagines international criminal law as a dynamic, dialogical system rather than an imposition of external legal norms.
ULTURALLY SUSTAINING PEDAGOGY AS COMMUNITARIAN LEGAL PLURALISM: DECOLONIZING CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN MULTICULTURAL NATIONS Berebon, Charles
Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies Vol 28, No 1 (2025): Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies (Early Access)
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/ijes.v28i1.77343

Abstract

This paper proposes a radical reconceptualization of citizenship education through the theoretical integration of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) and Communitarian Legal Pluralism (CLP). It argues that standard civic education curricula in multicultural nations function as a form of epistemological imperialism, imposing state-centric legal monism while erasing the plural legal and normative worlds of Indigenous, religious, and ethnic minority communities. Drawing on case studies from Canada, Bolivia, and Nigeria, this research demonstrates how a CSP-CLP framework can transform citizenship education from a tool of assimilation into a platform for legal pluralism. The paper examines how CLP’s core tenets—participatory governance, moral embeddedness, and collective well-being—provide the philosophical foundation for a decolonial approach to civics that recognizes multiple, coexisting sources of legal authority and civic identity. Through analysis of existing educational experiments and theoretical synthesis, we develop a model for "plurilegal citizenship education" that prepares students to navigate complex, overlapping jurisdictional realities. The findings suggest that such an approach not only enhances educational engagement among marginalized students but also fosters a more robust, inclusive democratic culture capable of honoring legal diversity without sacrificing core human rights principles. 
The Pluralist Imperative: Reforming the International Criminal Court's Complementarity Principle through a CLP Lens Berebon, Charles
Jurnal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer Vol 13, No 2 (2025): Juli – December 2025
Publisher : dialektika kontemporer

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Abstract

The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the state-centric complementarity principle in Article 17 of the Rome Statute, faces a persistent legitimacy crisis. Its “unwilling or unable” test, designed to adjudicate between national and international jurisdiction, systematically marginalizes non-state, community-based justice mechanisms (CBJMs). This paper argues that this legal centralist approach delegitimizes vital local practices like Uganda’s matu oput and Rwanda’s gacaca, undermining the ICC’s efficacy and moral authority. Applying the tenets of Community Legal Pluralism (CLP), this article offers a critical doctrinal analysis of ICC jurisprudence and a comparative study of its application in contexts like Colombia and Uganda. It posits that CLP—with its emphasis on collective well-being and participatory governance—provides the necessary theoretical lens to reform the complementarity principle. The paper proposes a concrete “pluralist complementarity” framework, outlining specific criteria (e.g., procedural fairness, human rights safeguards, and community legitimacy) for the Office of the Prosecutor to assess CBJMs. Furthermore, it recommends procedural reforms to formally integrate participatory input from traditional justice authorities during preliminary examinations and trial phases. By moving CLP from theoretical critique to actionable institutional reform, this paper provides a blueprint for transforming the ICC into a facilitator of “glocalized” justice, thereby enhancing its legitimacy and effectiveness in the pluralistic global order.
Digital Asceticism: Reimagining Christian Education in an Age of Digital Distraction Agustin, Daniel; Berebon, Charles; Kaunang, Margarita
REAL DIDACHE: Journal of Christian Education Vol. 6 No. 1: March 2026
Publisher : Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Real Batam

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.53547/5prp4t09

Abstract

In an era defined by digital saturation, understood not merely as the prevalence of technology but as a cultural state of pervasive distraction and fragmented attention, Christian education faces unprecedented challenges in fostering deep spiritual formation. This environment often treats attention as a commodity, thereby undermining the contemplative practices essential for discipleship. This paper proposes digital asceticism, a deliberate and theologically grounded approach to minimizing technological interference, as an essential framework for reimagining Christian pedagogy. The study employs an interdisciplinary methodology, conducting a systematic synthesis of theological literature drawing on ascetic traditions from the Desert Fathers to Bonhoeffer with contemporary philosophical critiques of technology from Ellul and Borgmann and an analysis of qualitative case studies from Christian educational settings implementing tech-fast pedagogies. The analysis reveals that uncritical adoption of digital tools correlates with fragmented attention and eroded communal worship. Conversely, the case studies demonstrate that interventions such as device-free Scripture memorization and analog-based liturgies yield tangible outcomes including improved scriptural recall, deeper cognitive engagement, and enhanced relational intimacy within learning communities. The study concludes that digital restraint functions not as a rejection of technology but as a form of resistance against the idolatry of efficiency, creating essential space for attentiveness to the Holy Spirit. The paper concludes by advocating for a via media and offers actionable principles for educators including curated digital curriculums and the design of sacred spaces free from screens. By integrating ancient ascetic wisdom with contemporary educational needs, this research provides a prophetic and practical counter-narrative to the uncritical digitization of faith formation. Keywords: Christian education; contemplative pedagogy; digital asceticism; spiritual formation; technology and discipleship Abstrak Di era yang ditandai oleh saturasi digital dipahami bukan sekadar sebagai meluasnya teknologi, melainkan sebagai kondisi budaya yang penuh dengan distraksi dan perhatian yang terfragmentasi, pendidikan Kristen menghadapi tantangan yang belum pernah ada sebelumnya dalam menumbuhkan pembentukan spiritual yang mendalam. Lingkungan ini kerap memperlakukan perhatian sebagai komoditas, sehingga melemahkan praktik-praktik kontemplatif yang sangat penting bagi pemuridan. Artikel ini mengusulkan asketisme digital, yakni suatu pendekatan yang disengaja dan berakar secara teologis untuk meminimalkan gangguan teknologi, sebagai kerangka yang esensial dalam menggagas ulang pedagogi Kristen. Penelitian ini menggunakan metodologi interdisipliner melalui sintesis sistematis terhadap literatur teologi, yang menggali tradisi asketis dari para Bapa Padang Gurun hingga Bonhoeffer, dikombinasikan dengan kritik filosofis kontemporer tentang teknologi dari Ellul dan Borgmann, serta analisis studi kasus kualitatif dari lembaga pendidikan Kristen yang menerapkan pedagogi tech-fast. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa adopsi alat digital secara tidak kritis berkorelasi dengan perhatian yang terfragmentasi dan melemahnya ibadah komunal. Sebaliknya, studi kasus memperlihatkan bahwa intervensi seperti hafalan Kitab Suci tanpa perangkat digital dan liturgi berbasis analog menghasilkan dampak nyata, mencakup peningkatan daya ingat terhadap teks Alkitab, keterlibatan kognitif yang lebih dalam, dan keintiman relasional yang lebih erat dalam komunitas belajar. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa pengendalian diri secara digital tidak berfungsi sebagai penolakan terhadap teknologi, melainkan sebagai bentuk perlawanan terhadap penyembahan berhala efisiensi, yang menciptakan ruang penting bagi kepekaan terhadap karya Roh Kudus. Artikel ini diakhiri dengan mengadvokasi via media dan menawarkan prinsip-prinsip aplikatif bagi para pendidik, termasuk kurikulum digital yang terseleksi dan perancangan ruang-ruang sakral yang bebas dari layar. Dengan mengintegrasikan kearifan asketis kuno dan kebutuhan pendidikan kontemporer, penelitian ini menghadirkan narasi tandingan yang profetis sekaligus praktis terhadap digitalisasi pembentukan iman yang tidak kritis. Kata Kunci: asketisme digital; pendidikan Kristen; pembentukan spiritual; pedagogi kontemplatif; teknologi dan pemuridan