Islam in the Public Sphere The Politics of Identity and the Future of Democracy in Indonesia Writers/Researchers: Sukron Kamil Amelia Fauzia Irfan Abubakar Ridwan al-Makassary Sri Hidayati Rita Pranawati Muchtadlirin Sholehudin A. Aziz Andi Agung Prihatna Editors: Winfried Weck Noorhaidi Hasan Irfan Abubakar Islam in the Public Sphere: The Politics of Identity and the Future of Democracy in Indonesia Editors: Winfried Weck Noorhaidi Hasan Irfan Abubakar Writers/Researchers: Sukron Kamil Amelia Fauzia Irfan Abubakar Ridwan al-Makassary Sri Hidayati Rita Pranawati Muchtadlirin Sholehudin A. Aziz Andi Agung Prihatna Translator: Dave Henton Language Editor: Saul Allen Proof Reader: Dick van der Meij Published by: Center for the Study of Religion and Culture (CSRC) Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Jl. Kertamukti No. 5 Pisangan, Ciputat, Jakarta 15419 Telp. (62) 21-7445173 Fax. (62) 21-7490756 www.csrc.or.id; [email protected] Copyright © 2011 by CSRC UIN Jakarta and KAS Indonesia Cover: Hidayat Lay-out: Muchtadlirin In cooperation with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Plaza Aminta, 4th Floor Jl. TB Simatupang Kav. 10 Jakarta 12310, Indonesia Tel. (62) 21-75909411-14 Fax. (62) 21-75909415 www.kas.de/indonesien; [email protected] ISBN: 978-979-3531-31-1 Contents Introduction by the Director of CSRC ____ v Preface of KAS Representative ____ ix Editor’s Foreword ____ xiii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Islamic Expression in the Public Sphere ..................................... 2 1. Cultural Islam..................................................................... 7 2. Political Islam (Islamism)................................................... 12 Islamic Identity in the Public Sphere: A Threat to Democracy?. 19 Main Issues and Research Methodology.................................... 21 The Structural System of this Book............................................ 24 CHAPTER II DESCRIBING THE RESEARCH FINDINGS The Role of Islam in the Public Sphere and Contestation of Islamic Orientations .................................................................... 29 1. Islamic Issues in Indonesia’s Public Sphere ...................... 30 2. The Media Used in Expansion of Islam in the Public Sphere............................................................... 31 Community Reception of Islam in the Public Sphere.................. 46 Islamist and Cultural Islam Orientations ..................................... 49 Islam in the Public Sphere and its Relation to Democracy......... 57 iii CHAPTER III THE DYNAMISM AND CONTESTATION OF ISLAM IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE The Formation of the Discourse of Islam in the Public Sphere .. 70 1. Faith and Ritual.................................................................. 71 2. Morality and Social Ethics ................................................. 72 3. Family Law, Economics and Criminal Matters.................. 73 4. Politics ......................................................................... 74 5. The Role of the Media....................................................... 77 The Dynamics of Islamic Competition in the Public Sphere....... 78 The Challenge of Islamism for the Future of Indonesia.............. 82 CHAPTER IV ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY: NEGOTIATING THE FUTURE OF INDONESIA Islam and Democracy................................................................. 96 Support for Democracy and Criticism of its Implementation...... 106 Theological Rejection of Democracy.......................................... 115 Democratic Ideal and Muslim Ambivalence............................... 120 CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS Conclusions Reached.................................................................. 129 Recommendations....................................................................... 132 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................... 135 INDEX ......................................................................... 149 APPENDIX: RESPONDENT PROFILES ............................... 153 Editors and Writers ..................................................................... 161 About CSRC ......................................................................... 165 About KAS ......................................................................... 169 iv Introduction by the Director of CSRC As a research institution for religion and culture within the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the publication of this book is very significant to our ongoing efforts to support the constructive role of Islam in the consolidation of democ- racy in Indonesia. These efforts have been pursued through various research and advocacy activities, which although dealing with differ- ent issues, all address one great goal: strengthening the capacity of the Muslim community to support democratization, and to strengthen civil society and good governance. With the support of KAS in Germany, in 2010 CSRC conducted research in 10 Provinces under the title “Islamization of the Public Sphere: Muslim Identity and Negotiating the Future of Democracy”. The research combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, and aimed to understand the expression of Islam in the public sphere of the Reformasi era, including its background, the factors involved and the media used. The study also aimed to assess the extent to which the appearance of Islamic symbols in the public sphere affects de- mocracy in Indonesia. More specifically, the question this research asked was: With its concepts of an Islamic State, the formalization of Islamic shariah and the use of ultra-exclusive Islamic identity in the public sphere, has political Islam been successful in dominating the consciousness and the political orientation of the majority Muslim v community? The findings of this study indicate that regardless of occurrences of radicalism involving a group of hardline Muslims which have viv- idly colored the political public sphere in the past decade, the charac- ter of the majority of Indonesian Muslims remains tolerant, culturally attuned, and pluralist. These findings are encouraging. However, at the same time, consolidation of democracy in Indonesia requires still greater and deeper cultural capital: that is a stock of critical cultural and moral responsibility to create clean government, anti-corruption, and the resolution of political conflict by peaceful, dignified means. At the same time, the preservation of cultural Islam still requires the awareness and involvement of all stakeholders: government, civil so- ciety, and campus communities. With the winds of democratization sweeping Arab countries today, we are optimistic that constitutional reforms in the Muslim world will deliver a brighter future for harmonious and productive relations be- tween the Islamic world and the West, based on enhanced mutual respect and understanding. This work would not have been possible without the contribu- tion and hard work of all parties. I would like to give my thanks and appreciation to the following people. First of all, to Amelia Fauzia as director of the research project, and Sukron Kamil who became the team leader for the duration of the research. Similarly to fellow re- searchers: Andi Agung Prihatna, Irfan Abubakar, Ridwan al- Makassary, Rita Pranawati, Sri Hidayati, Sholehudin A. Aziz, Muchtadlirin, Idris Hemay, and Abdullah Sajad. The fruit of their cre- ative work provided the draft research reports which are now to be found in this book. I also cannot fail to thank the CSRC staff who directly or indirectly contributed to the publication of this book, Efrida Yasni, Sylvia Nurman, and Nurul Qomariah. On this occasion I would also like to thank Winfried Weck and Noorhaidi Hasan, who worked with me in successfully editing the draft research reports that now appear here. My thanks also to David Henton who translated this work into English so that it can be read by a broader public. And of course I cannot overlook the thanks due to Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat and Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, MA for the guidance and expertise they offer CSRC. The advice and vi encouragement they both provide always gives spirit and illumination to us here at CSRC. Lastly I would like to express my sincere appre- ciation and gratitude to Winfried Weck, KAS Representative in Indo- nesia. Without his willingness and good faith in supporting the re- search and its publication, this book would not appear as it does to- day. May the understanding and cooperation that exists between KAS and CSRC provide the maximum benefit for broader humanitarian goals. That is our hope! Ciputat, May 2011 Irfan Abubakar Director - CSRC vii Preface of KAS Representative When the Center for the Study of Religion and Culture (CSRC) of the State Islamic University Jakarta first men- tioned the idea of a countrywide survey of the religious orientations of Indonesia’s Muslim population, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung im- mediately expressed its interest and support. Why, the reader might ask, was a German political foundation, with links to Gemany’s ruling Christian Democrats, interested in the internal developments of a for- eign people and their political behavior? After the holocaust, Germany carried a heavy historical bur- den, and its relationship with the international Jewish Community was extremely difficult. Against this background, in the 1970s the Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung began cooperation with the American Jewish Com- mittee (AJC), the largest Jewish organization in the United States, through an exchange program that still exists. This commitment be- came KAS’ first step into the field of interreligious dialogue, which is now an important pillar of its international activities and worldwide reputation. This extended into the 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, when intellectual discussion and exchange of positions became possible between the orthodox churches of East- ern Europe and the Catholic and Protestant churches of Western Europe. KAS served as initiator, organizer, and moderator of this im- portant dialogue program. Finally, the interreligious dialogue entered a new stage after the catastrophic events of 9/11, when the assump- ix tions Samuel Huntington made in his Clash of Civilizations seemed to be suddenly and tragically confirmed. Although there had already been several individual religious dialogue programs in Muslim coun- tries, mainly organized by KAS, 9/11 can be seen as triggering an even more focussed, concentrated and organized form of this interre- ligious dialogue between the “Muslim world” and the “Western World” Talking about these different “Worlds” not only means talking about religious concepts, but even more about political cultures and ways of organizing the coexistence of one or all of the peoples who form a nation and, in consequence, of all peoples and nations world- wide. Specifically, following the collapse of communism, democratic systems were implemented in many Central and Eastern European countries, bringing hope for a period of stability and peace under the so called New World Order. Then the events of 9/11 occurred, and the Western world saw the sudden appearance of a world religion that is going amok as a collective threat that has not yet been over- come. After the recent events that have sent shock waves through several Arab nations, the Western hemisphere now detects glimpses of hope that democracy might be implemented in parts of the world which, until now, have steadfastly resisted it; right into the heartlands of the Islamic hemisphere. Why does the Western World perceive democracy as the only right and just form of political system? Is it, as often voiced by radical Muslims, because democracy, along with the rule of law and protection of human rights, is a Western concept and, once implemented worldwide, would mean that the West will rule and dominate the world, including the Islamic countries? There is a better and historically proven explanation. Democra- cies do not fight each other in combat, and they do not wage wars against each other. Except for the Civil War in the United States 1861-65, in the history of mankind there is not a single example of a war between two democracies. To the contrary, the European Unifi- cation Process clearly demonstrates how the nations within a ex- tremely diversified region, which had been a war zone for hundreds of years, overcame their traditional enmities, and how a whole conti- nent is being pacified by the main reason that the European Union is a club made up exclusively of democracies. Democracy comes in various technical forms; presidential or parliamentary systems, ma- x