ABSTRACT
The political transition from 1998 to 2004 witnessed a “tandem practice” of Islamization and democratization. The demise of Suharto’s regime brought about democratic change and allowed for a politicization of religion in public life. It marked a new situation that slowly broke with the New Order’s avoidance of identity politics. Issues concerning ethnicity, race and religion were now permitted to be discussed, disputed and contested openly. In this climate, not only Islamists but also feminists took the opportunity to join political debates and to struggle for political recognition.
