The Role of Moderate Character in Strengthening Peace Education for Welcoming New Normal Life in The COVID-19 Era

This article describes the role of moderate character education in strengthening peace education in the era of the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Strengthening peace education is important to avoid opportunities for conflicts in society. This conflict is horizontal and vertical. The situation in the Covid-19 Era has hit the economic conditions of some residents. This then spreads, causing social anxiety in the community. Moderate Islamic values include religious, tolerance, democratic, peace-loving, and social characteristics. Meanwhile, the value of nationalism includes the character of the spirit of nationality and love for the country, That is, moderate character education is not only responsible for the formation of righteous and noble human beings it also forms people who have a responsibility to maintain peace. The focus of this study discusses the potential for conflict due to COVID-19 based on Moderate Character Education to strengthen peace education using a conflict study approach combined with a structural approach. One of the main arguments of this paper is that the fear of the emergence of conflict is rooted in ignorance of the elements that are pre-conditions for the conflict situation. Conflict, then, is an accumulation of various factors that are intertwined with one another. So that with the strengthening of peace education through moderate character education it can be an alternative solution for a more peaceful and civilized Indonesia.