Indonesia: Overcoming fears of radicalism in MENA

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 at 7:30 am by Guest Contributor

Indonesia: Overcoming fears of radicalism in MENA 2011-04-06T07:30:18-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Many opinions, one election

Many scholars are pessimistic that Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution and the political transition in Egypt will successfully bring about democracy in these countries, and worry that there is a significant risk of Islamic political groups, some with radical interpretations of shari’a (Islamic principles of jurisprudence), taking on an inordinately influential role during the political transition.

Is there any truth to the argument that Islam is incompatible with democracy?

The Indonesian example suggests otherwise.

Indonesia underwent a major political transition that started with the toppling of a 32-year-old authoritarian regime during the Reform movement of 1998, similar to the situation in Tunisia and Egypt today.

The Indonesian transition to democracy indicates that Islam, as a religion and culture, is indeed compatible with democracy. The support for the concepts of democracy and the nation-state by Muslims in Indonesia contradicts the notions of those scholars who believe that Islam and democracy are incompatible and therefore Muslim-majority countries are doomed to autocratic rule.

Although some Muslim-majority countries have been troubled by radical Islamic political groups, Indonesia has experienced a peaceful political consolidation, which has included groups with diverse political platforms. In the parliament, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is considered to be the largest post-reform Islamic political party, tackles various national agendas together in collaboration with secular parties.

Indonesia does face demands by some groups to implement strict interpretations of Islamic law in various regions, most notably in Aceh, where women are obliged to wear a headscarf (locally called the jilbab) under a by-law on Islamic dress. Such actions have become rallying points for other Islamic political groups to do the same elsewhere. However, the majority of Indonesian Muslims hold dearly to the religious rights of all groups as protected under the constitution and have not endorsed the formal implementation of a conservative type of Islamic law.

While this proves that Islam and democracy can coexist in Indonesia, does it necessarily lead to a similar conclusion in the Middle East and North Africa?

Robert W. Hefner, an anthropologist from Boston University, credits large Indonesian Islamic organisations such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah (with approximately 80 million and 14 million members respectively) with making a difference in Indonesia. Their social activities, such as establishing schools, hospitals, orphanages and other social institutions, have set examples for how to balance Islamic principles, democracy and nation-building. Their activists also have been engaged in activities such as an anti-corruption movement, creating good governance, and helping develop public policy and budgeting in local governments.

Some scholars credit the Indonesian cultural tendencies of conflict avoidance. For example, Indonesian scholar Taufik Abdullah says that the large sizes of Islamic organisations in Indonesia, as opposed to being splintered into smaller organisations, have made Indonesian Muslims appear more unified, adopting popular, inclusive religious interpretations as they avoid religious-based controversies or conflict.

An Islamic scholar from Indonesia, Azyumardi Azra, says that Muslims in Indonesia emphasise the accommodative nature of Islam, which is why they easily accepted democracy, human rights and other relatively new ideas.

The Indonesian experience offers two insights for emerging democracies in the Middle East and North Africa: one, Islamic civil society organisations can play an active role in strengthening democratic states; and two, the diversity within Islam can be a strength which can encourage the acceptance of change and societal differences, and inspire not only individual piety and political ideals, but also the type of humanitarian initiatives necessary for nation-building.

(Photo: Enda Nasution)

Testriono ([email protected]) is a researcher at the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) at the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

Briefings

Previous Post

April 4, 2011

Islamic law in the US: The Sharia within

Next Post

April 7, 2011 After Tahrir: Protecting US Muslims from bigotry

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2012 Elections 30 Dayd 30 Writers (2017) 30 Days 30 Writers 30 Days 30 Writers (2015) 30 Days 30 Writers (2016) 30 Days 30 Writers (2018) 30 Days 30 Writers 2017 Ali Asadullah Ali Eteraz Alper Bilgili Arthur Richards Asides Asma Uddin Black History Month Briefings Charles Turner Commentary Cyrus McGoldrick Eman H Aly Fatimah Popal Hajj Hajj and Dhul Hijjah Hesham Hassaballa Hisham Hellyer Ibrahim Abusharif Inas Younis Irfan Yusuf Jalal Baig Junaid Afeef Laila Alawa Laila Alwala Mas'ood Cajee Muqtedar Khan Nakia Jackson Newsmakers Parvez Ahmed Podcasts Rabia Chaudry Rafia Zakaria Ramadan Reviews Safiyyah Ally Saud Inam Shahed Amanullah Svend White The Opinionated Oncologist Visions Wajahat Ali Zahed Amanullah Zahir Janmohamed Zainab Khan

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who found baby Moses in the river?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Miriam Pharaoh's daughter A shepherd Moses' mother