Page 363 - INDONESIA ISLAMIC CULTURE

Islamic Political

Movements

Yon Machmudi

Since the end of the 20 century and to politics that could stimulate Islam Party (Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, PKS), new methods the Dutch domination Office of the Central
th
the beginning of the 21 century Islamic into becoming more accommodative the United Development Party (Partai and Christian penetration could be be Board of Partai Amanat
st
politics in Indonesia have developed and more widely accepted by the ruling Persatuan Pembangunan, PPP) and resisted. Changes had to be made Nasional (PAN, National
3
significantly. The political struggle of the regime. In general, one may say that the Crescent Star Party (Partai Bulan through reforms in religion, education, Mandate Party), Pasar
1
Muslim in Indonesia has gone through Indonesian Muslims had begun to focus Bintang, PBB), in addition to the National as well as in politics. Minggu, Jakarta. PAN
a long and complicated transformation on another, more substantive role of Awakening Party (Partai Kebangkitan is an open political
following the development of democracy Islam rather than merely on its legal Bangsa, PKB) and the National Mandate Sheikh Nawawi al-Bantani (d.1897), party, but it has a
in Indonesia. Muslims have become the formality, which they could easily adapt to Party (Partai Amanat Nasional, PAN). Sheikh Ahmad Khatib (d. 1915) and special relation with the
most important part of the Indonesian the course of the developing democracy. The latter two parties are categorized Sheikh Mahfuz at-Turmusi (d. 1920) were Muhammadiyah.
population in strengthening the process of However, behind the Muslims’ success as Muslim-based parties, although they three great scholars of Indonesian origin Source: Directorate of
democratic consolidation. Therefore, it is in delivering this new strategy, it still also declare to be open to non Muslims. who taught at the Haram Mosque. They History and Cultural
not surprising if Indonesia is now regarded engendered the emergence of small Although significant, in general these had a major influence on the adventof Values, Ministry of
as an important model for democracy in numbers of hardliner groups of Islamists differences are not very evident as the social, religious and political movements. Education and Culture
the world. However, Indonesia’s success who rejected the model of the Islamic working programs of Islamic, nationalist, These three sheikhs, according to of the Republic of
4
in this process has not come about struggle from within the system and and secular parties in Indonesia are Martin van Bruinessen, were among Indonesia.
without challenges. To what extent did stressed the application of more almost the same. Such is due to the the highest ranking Indonesian ‘ulama
Muslim communities, especially Islamic substantive Islamic principles in politics. large number of Muslim activists in both in the Haram and after them no other
politics parties, played their political They insisted on the implementation nationalist and secular parties. Indonesians ever succeeded tothem.
role and contributed to this democratic of the Shari’a and on a change in the Nawawi Banten was a very prolific
consolidation? There is need for an in- system of enforced legislation. 2 Political Movement before author. In addition to writing a Qur’anic
depth analysis of the dynamics of Muslim There are currently two types of Islamic Independence commentary, he also wrote several
politics in Indonesia from the beginning of political parties in Indonesia: mass- Before the time of independence, books on various disciplines of Islamic
Independence up to the present. based and ideologically-based that differ Muslims had formed a number of scholarships. He gave a full explanation
It is crucial to have a good look at the in terms of the principles they adhere to socio-political movements that aimed of some brief treatises that were taught
development of their new political role, but they are similar in their defence of at the independence of Indonesia. in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren)
one of which is the new strategies Muslim aspirations and in their support Initially, these organizations focused and he also equipped and corrected their
5
adopted by the Muslims in response for democracy. Parties categorized their activities on Islamic propagation, contents. It is not surprising if traditional
to the repressive New Order regime. as Islamic are the Prosperous Justice education, and social development. religious clerics and scholars in
These strategies tended to be more 1. Bahtiar Effendy, Teologi Baru Politik Islam. They had realized that the propagation 3. Deliar Noer, Gerakan Moderen Islam di Indonesia
cooperative, which differed from the more (Yogyakarta: Galang Press, 2001). of Islam could no longer simply rely 1900-1942. (Jakarta:LP3ES, 1982), p. 37.
confrontational former strategies that 2. Syarifuddin Jurdi, Pemikiran Politik Islam on traditional models but had to be 4. Martin Van Bruinessen, Kitab Kuning, Pesantren
dan Tarekat, (Yogyakarta: Gading Publishing,
were adopted in relation to Islam and the Indonesia: Pertautan Negara, Khilafah, Masyarakat carried outby more modern and well- 2012), p. 106.
Madani dan Demokrasi (Yogyakarta: Pustaka
state . They engendered a new approach Pelajar, 2008), pp. 181-192. structured organizations only by these 5. Van Bruinessen, Kitab Kuning ..., p. 107.

354 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 355