ABSTRACT

This edited volume argues that the rise of Islamic conservatism poses challenges to Indonesia’s continued existence as a secular state, with far-reaching implications for the social, cultural and political fortunes of the country. It contributes a model of analysis in the field of Indonesian and Islamic studies on the logic of Islamic conservative activism in Indonesia. This volume presents informative case studies of discourses and expressions of Islamic conservatism expressed by leading mainstream and upcoming Indonesian Islamic groups and interpret them in a nuanced perspective. All volume contributors are Indonesian-based Islamic Studies scholars with in-depth expertise on the Islamic groups they have studied closely for years, if not decades.

This book is an up-to-date study addressing contemporary Indonesian politics that should be read by Islamic Studies, Indonesian Studies, and more broadly Southeast Asian Studies specialists. It is also a useful reference for those studying Religion and Politics, and Comparative Politics.

chapter 1|13 pages

Introduction

Rising Islamic conservatism in Indonesia: Islamic groups and identity politics

chapter 2|26 pages

Muslim identity and deprivation

Socio-psychological sources of support for Islamist radical groups in Indonesia

chapter 5|15 pages

Resisting conservatism

Muhammadiyah’s experience through its social activities

chapter 6|21 pages

Challenging moderate Islam in Indonesia

NU Garis Lurus and its construction of the “authentic” NU online

chapter 7|17 pages

MUI and its discursive relevance for “Aksi Bela Islam”

A growing trend of Islamic conservatism in Indonesia

chapter 8|13 pages

The rise and fall of “transnational” Islam in Indonesia

The future of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI)

chapter 9|17 pages

Why do Islamist movements die?

Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia and its decline

chapter 10|18 pages

The PKS and Tarbiyah movement

Its agenda and future in Indonesia

chapter 11|17 pages

Indonesian hybrid Salafism

Wahdah Islamiyah’s rise, ideology and Utopia

chapter 13|12 pages

Epilogue

Conservative Islam and the dilemma of Indonesian democracy