Local Wisdom and Regional Autonomy in Addressing Interreligious Conflict in Central Lombok

Indonesia, as an archipelagic nation, is characterized by a rich diversity of languages, traditions, religions, and cultures. Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, exemplifies this plurality, with a Muslim majority living alongside Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, and other religious communities. Despite a relatively high tolerance index ranging from 3.5 to 3.7 over the past five years, the potential for interreligious conflict persists, indicating unresolved socio-political tensions. This study seeks to (1) identify and analyze the factors that trigger interreligious disintegration in Central Lombok; (2) examine the extent to which current regional autonomy policies incorporate local wisdom in preventing conflict; and (3) propose a contextual model for integrating local cultural values into policy frameworks to enhance social cohesion. A qualitative approach was employed, combining observation, in-depth interviews, Findings reveal that religious tension in Central Lombok is rooted in structural inequalities, insufficient interfaith dialogue, and the marginalization of traditional values in governance. While local wisdom has historically functioned as a cohesive force, it remains underutilized in current regional policies. The SLR further exposes a gap in the literature, where governance and indigenous culture are rarely treated as integrative tools for peacebuilding. This study’s novelty lies in its interdisciplinary framework that bridges local wisdom with regional autonomy policy, offering practical insights for conflict prevention in multicultural contexts.