Bincang Buku: Islamism and the Quest for Hegemony in Indonesia

Summary

In this insightful podcast, Masrukmo Hakim discusses his book *Islami, Zoom, and the Quest in Indonesia*, exploring the complexities of political Islam in Indonesia post-9/11. He critiques the simplistic binary views of Islam as either radical or moderate and presents a broader analysis of Islam’s role in the country’s politics. Through his discourse analysis, Mas Hakim reflects on how Islamism has evolved within Indonesia’s state-building, developmentalism, and democracy. He also examines the challenges faced by Islamic movements in achieving hegemony, emphasizing the tensions between Islam and democracy, and the impact of these dynamics on the 2024 elections.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Global War on Terror is considered over, but political discourses around Islam continue to shape electoral politics, especially regarding tolerance and intolerance in elections.
• 😀 The podcast discusses a new book by Dr. Masrukmo Hakim from the International Relations Department at Universitas Gadjah Mada, titled *Islamism and the Quest in Indonesia*.
• 😀 The book stems from Dr. Hakim's PhD research and reflects his experiences during the pandemic lockdown, offering insights into the evolution of political Islam in Indonesia.
• 😀 Dr. Hakim critiques the existing literature on political Islam, especially post-9/11, which tends to present Islam in a monolithic way, categorizing it as either radical or moderate.
• 😀 The book challenges the view that Islam's participation in politics naturally leads to moderation, arguing that Islamic political parties, including PKS, have shown a range of ideological stances.
• 😀 Dr. Hakim emphasizes the need to examine Islam in a broader social context, particularly in relation to the formation and transformation of the Indonesian nation-state.
• 😀 He rejects simple classifications of Islamism and instead focuses on the practical use of Islam in political discourse, encompassing a range of political actions from electoral participation to violent movements.
• 😀 The evolution of Islamic politics in Indonesia is not seen as a linear process but rather as a complex and contradictory one, shaped by different historical and social contexts.
• 😀 Dr. Hakim argues that the failure to create a hegemonic Islamic value system has led to polarization within Indonesian Islam, as evidenced in the Jakarta gubernatorial election and the 2019 presidential election.
• 😀 The future of Islamism in Indonesian politics, particularly in the 2024 elections, will depend on how Islam is articulated within the political contest, with hopes for a shift towards a more inclusive and socially just approach.

Q & A

What motivated the author to write the book 'Islamism and the Quest in Indonesia'?

The author, Mas Aim, was motivated by dissatisfaction with the existing literature on political Islam, especially post-9/11. He felt that much of the discourse was overly simplistic and failed to capture the complexities of Islam in Indonesia. The book emerged from his PhD research, and he used the lockdown period to complete it.

What makes this book unique compared to other studies on political Islam?

The book stands out because it challenges the monolithic view of Islam in politics, especially the binary categorization of Islam as either radical or moderate. It also places Islamic political discourse in the broader social context of Indonesia's nation-building and democratization.

What are the two major contexts that shape political Islam in Indonesia, as discussed in the book?

The two major contexts are domestic, referring to Indonesia's democratization and political liberalization, and global, influenced by the post-9/11 global War on Terror, which led to a more suspicious view of Islam as a potential threat to democracy.

How does the author critique the mainstream approach to studying political Islam?

The author critiques the mainstream approach for being too focused on party politics and inclusion-moderation theories, which suggest that participation in elections leads to moderation. This view fails to address the broader relationship between political Islam in parties and its role in civil society.

What is the concept of 'Islamism' as discussed in the book?

Islamism, as presented in the book, is seen as a political discourse where Islam is used as a tool for political purposes, ranging from seeking power through elections to engaging in violent movements. It is not limited to ideological claims of establishing an Islamic state but includes various political practices that instrumentalize Islam.

What does the author mean by Islamism being a 'political project'?

The author refers to Islamism as a political project in the sense that it is used to organize political demands and mobilize for power. This view diverges from the classic view of Islamism as merely an ideology seeking an Islamic state.

How does the author describe the evolution of Islam's role in Indonesia's politics?

The author suggests that the evolution of Islam's role in Indonesia's politics is not a linear progression but rather involves contradictions and complexities. He divides the history into three major discourses: state-building, developmentalisme, and democracy, each representing different phases of political engagement.

What key argument does the author make regarding the hegemonic role of Islam in Indonesia?

The author argues that Islam has failed to establish hegemonic values in Indonesia. Instead of becoming a unifying force, Islam has become a source of polarization, especially in elections, where different factions of Islam vie for dominance, leading to a fragmented political landscape.

How does the author view the relationship between Islam and democracy in Indonesia?

The author critiques the simplistic view that Islam and democracy in Indonesia are inherently compatible or that Islam has become more moderate due to democratic participation. Instead, he highlights the complexities of Islam's role in democracy, where its political engagement often results in contradictions and tensions.

What are the author's expectations for the role of Islam in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election?

The author expects Islam to play a significant role in the 2024 election, but he hopes it will be articulated in a more positive, pro-social justice and multikulturalistic manner, rather than the exclusionary and polarizing approaches seen in previous elections. The future role of Islam will depend largely on how political candidates and Muslim activists frame their discourse.