ABSTRACT
This chapter presents three different meanings of secularism. First, secularism was conceptualised as an idea to enhance spatial integration in a society that was perceived as essentially diverse in religious terms. The second meaning of secularism was understood as a form of modern interventionism. The third idea of secularism concerned the promise of equality, which was central to the self-legitimisation of postcolonial elites, grassroots movements, and other non-governmental pressure groups. Turkey and its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, had long since been an important reference point in transnational formations of political opinions and anti-colonial attitudes, particularly in British India. The theological dimension of state secularism was not limited to the personal opinions of political decision-makers and administrators, but also acquired an institutional dimension, in particular in Malaysia and Indonesia. Political independence appeared to hold the promise of general, secular citizenship based on the notion of equality and general welfare.
