Abstract

This article analyses the polarisation of Islamic groupings in Indonesia which have taken place since 2017. It reviews the situation from the 2017 gubernatorial elections in Jakarta and the incident of the Ahok Video, during which the various Islamic factions were united, up to the 2019 elections, during which they polarised around the different presidential candidates and were unable to present a united front. This article analyses the division of Islamic groupings in Indonesia into traditionalist, fundamentalist and modernist, and looks at the interactions within them and between them on social media towards the 2019 campaign to better understand their positioning.

Notes

1 Edward Aspinall, ‘Indonesia’s Election and the Return of Ideological Competition’. April 22, 2019, https://www.newmandala.org/indonesias-election-and-the-return-of-ideological-competition/ (accessed 17 August 2020).

2 Kees van Dijk and Ahmad Najib Burhani, ‘Defining Indonesian Islam: An Examination of the Construction of the National Islamic Iendtity of Traditionalist and Modernist Muslim’, in Jajat Burhanudin and Kees van Dijk (Eds.), Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting Images and Interpretations. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2013, pp. 25–44.

3 Sonny Eli Zaluchu, Stephanus Karnadhi, Fransiskus Irwan Widjaja, and Harls Evan Siahaan, ‘Legitimation of Religious Symbols in Politics: Descriptive Analysis of The Narration of Indonesian’. International Conference of Democratisation in Southeast Asia (ICDeSA 2019). Serang, Indonesia: Atlantis Press, 2019, pp. 61–65.

4 Mohamad Khoirul Fata, ‘Membaca Polarisasi Santri Dalam Kontestasi Pilpres 2019’. Jurnal Dinamika Penlitian: Media Komunikasi Keagamaan Vol. 18. Issue 2 (2018): 325–344.

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7 Aspinal, op.cit.

8 Q. Temby, A. N. Burhani and B. Irawanto, Indonesia’s 2019 Elections: The Key Issues. Singapore: Yusof Ishak Institute, 2019.

9 M. Iqbal Ahnaf and Danielle N. Lussier, ‘Religious Leaders and Elections in the Polarizing Context of Indonesia’. Humaniora Vol. 31. Issue 3 (2019): 227–237.

10 Lili Romli, ‘Political Identity and Challenges for Democracy Consolidation in Indonesia’. Politik Indonesia: Indonesian Political Science Review Vol. 4. Issue 1 (2019): 78–98.

11 Bourchier, op.cit., p. 22.

12 Sidney Jones, Indonesia’s Illiberal Turn After the Ahok Case. May 26, 2017. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/indonesia/2017-05-26/indonesias-illiberal-turn (accessed 4 October 2019).

14 Jones, Why Indonesian Extremists are Gaining Ground. November 1, 2016. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-indonesian-extremists-are-gaining-ground (accessed 1 September 2019).

15 Ibid.

16 Greg Fealy, Bigger than Ahok: Explaining the 2 December Mass Rally. December 7, 2017. https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/bigger-than-ahok-explaining-jakartas-2-december-mass-rally/ (accessed 4 October 2019).

17 Ibid.

18 Bourchier, op. cit., p. 24.

19 Muh Khamdan and Wiharyani Wiharyani, ‘Mobilisasi Politik Identitas Dan Kontestasi Gerakan Fundamentalisme’. Al Tahrir Jurnal Pemikiran Islam Vol. 18. Issue 1 (2018): 193–218.

20 Haedar Nashir, Zuly Qodir, Achmad Nurmandi and Hasse Jubba, ‘Muhammadiyah’s Moderation Stance in the General Election: Crtical Views from Within’. Al-Jami'ah Journal of Islamic Studies Vol. 57. Issue 1 (2019): 1–24.

21 Budi Irawanto, Making it Personal: The Campaign Battle on Social Media in Indonesia’s 2019 Presidential Election. Working Paper, Singapore: Yusof Ishak Institute, 2019.

22 Eko Harry Susanto, ‘Media Sosial Sebagai Pendukung Jaringan Komunikasi Politik’. Jurnal ASPIKOM Vol. 3. Issue 3 (2019): 379–398.

23 Mohammad Nur Habibi and Sunjana, ‘Analysis of Indonesia Politics Polarization before 2019 President Election Using Sentiment Analysis and Social Network Analysis’. International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 2019: 22–30.

24 Syafiq Hasyim, Abangan, Santri, and Priyayi: Three Streams in Indonesia’s Electoral Politics. RSIS Commentaries, 073-19, Singapore: Nanyang Technological University, 2019.

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27 Anders C. Johansson, Tweeting for Power: Social Media and Political Campaigning in Indonesia. Working Paper, Stockholm: Stockholm School of Economics Asia, 2016.

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29 Abdul Zuhdi Malik, Ema Utami and Suwanto Raharjo, ‘Analisis Sentimen Twitter Terhadap Capres Indonesia 2019 Dengan Metode K-NN’. Jurnal INFORMA Politeknik Vol. 5. Issue 2 (2019): 1–7.

30 Heyder Affan, Golongan habib dalam pusaran politik pilpres: ‘Ada yang mau menyeret kami ke politik praktis'. March 1, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-46876040 (accessed 23 January 2020).

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34 Yustinus Paat, Pernyataan Din Syamsuddin Berpotensi Delegitimasi Sikap Resmi Muhammadiyah di Pilpres 2019. March 20, 2019. https://www.beritasatu.com/nasional/544152-pernyataan-din-syamsuddin-berpotensi-delegitimasi-sikap-resmi-muhammadiyah-di-pilpres-2019 (accessed 16 June 2019).

35 Ari Ganjar Herdiansah and Luthfi Hamzah Husin, ‘Religious Identity Politics on Social Media in Indonesia: A Discursive Analysis on Islamic Civil Societies’. Jurnal Studi Pemerintahan Vol. 9. Issue 2 (2018): 187–222.

36 Mohammad Fajardin, Ansor Tegaskan Dukung Jokowi-KH Ma'ruf di Pilpres 2019. March 2, 2019. https://nasional.sindonews.com/berita/1383400/12/ansor-tegaskan-dukung-jokowi-kh-maruf-di-pilpres-2019 (accessed 15 October 2019).

37 Joko Panji Sasongko, PBNU Siap Menangkan Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin di Pilpres 2019. March 14, 2018. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20180814171857-32-322232/pbnu-siap-menangkan-jokowi-maruf-amin-di-pilpres-2019 (accessed 3 July 2019).

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39 Nimas Widyawati, Ormas Konservatif Gerus Elektabilitas Prabowo, NU Solid Dukung Jokowi. March 16, 2019. https://baliexpress.jawapos.com/read/2019/03/16/125464/ormas-konservatif-gerus-elektabilitas-prabowo-nu-solid-dukung-jokowi (accessed 12 October 2019).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Salahudin

Salahudin is a lecturer of Government Studies-Social and Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia. He is also a doctoral student of Islamic Politics-Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Email: [email protected]

Achmad Nurmandi

Achmad Nurmandi is a Professor of Government Affairs and Administration-Social and Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Hasse Jubba

Hasse Jubba is a Lecturer for the Doctoral Program of Islamic Politics-Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Zuly Qodir

Zuly Qodir is a Lecturer for the Doctoral Program of Islamic Politics-Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Jainuri

Jainuri is a Lecturer of Government Studies-Social and Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang

Paryanto

Paryanto is a doctoral student of Islamic Politics-Political Science in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

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