ARTICLE: "Where 'soft Islam' is on the march: Indonesia has some worrying radicals but it seems to be following Turkey, with Islamists moderating as they get closer to power," The Economist, 12 January 2008, p. 35.
An interesting adaptation process fueled in Indonesia by the rise of Islamist parties: secular ones increasingly spice up their appeals with Islamic references and tinges, admittedly pandering to the social conservatism desired among much of the Islamist base, but likewise keeping the overall tone cool. So anti-corruption and social justice, tinged with Islamic tones, are in, but talking about an Islamic state is considered a big turnoff to most voters.
This is a form of Indonesian triangulating, methinks. Something to keep watching.
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Comments (3)
Indonesian Islam has traditionally been very tolerant because it had to practice syncretism and parochialism ( thousands of islands) that allowed it to easily fold in previous Hindu and folk traditions.
Deobandi, Wahabbist and salafist strands of intolerant political Islam are very recent imports to Indinesia, mostly inculcated in the system of 15,000 -20,000 madrassas financed by Saudi Arabia in the last decade or so. Religious education, even provided by foreign extremists, is an attractive option to villagers when there are few affordable, secular alternatives. You can't beat something with nothing.
Posted by zenpundit
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February 20, 2008 1:25 PM
If the world of Islam selected its leader by citizen population count, Indonesia would provide the key candidates. Oil, nukes and madrases influences trumped citizen counts, but it is interesting that Saudi leaders supported Wahabbist efforts to overturn the evolving democratic citizenship culture in Indonesia ... long before 9/11.
Posted by Louis Heberlein | February 20, 2008 2:11 PM
The reverse trend can be seen as well, the Islamic parties trying to break out of their electoral ghetto and reach out to non-Muslims, even the Justice Party has seen moves in this direction, the more moderate Muslim parties have an established practice of seeking out non-Muslim members.
Posted by Indonesia Matters | February 20, 2008 10:12 PM