ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the links between democratic transformation, the progressive young middle class, and civil society groups in post-Suharto Indonesia by looking closely at a number of Jakarta-based religious NGOs and their activism. As religion is deeply rooted in Indonesian society, religious NGOs have historically enjoyed a relatively high status in carrying out their conventional roles as social service providers, have developed extensive networks in poor communities, and have facilitated social changes at the local level. This chapter shows how religious NGOs, through their efforts to promote equality, diversity, and open dialogues in the society, have supported and been advancing democracy to take root in contemporary Indonesia. Although religious NGOs may not be the main actor in democratic transformation, their contributions cannot be glossed over in the contemporary context of political consolidation and religious revivalism in the country.
