ABSTRACT
Islam is an important political force in post-Suharto Indonesia. Most Islamists, whether radical or moderate, are quite prepared to work through the democratic system to achieve their desired outcomes, and most reject violence and militant revolutionary doctrine. Nevertheless, it needs to be recognized that, the very small number of Jihadi Islamists aside, even the radical Islamists are, for the foreseeable future, committed to the democratic process. Clearly Islam, like the other great world religions, can both inspire liberal democratic reform and be used to justify the authoritarian repression of basic freedoms. But there can be no doubt that the efforts of progressive Islamic intellectuals and social movements will help determine the enduring character of Islam's overall contribution to democratization and liberal reform. The long history of Islamic civilization and the peaceful and moderate disposition of the vast majority of Muslims living today testify to a different reality, is not sufficient to overturn the stereotype of endemic fundamentalism.
