Overview

This book examines the failure of Islamic politics in becoming a hegemonic force in Indonesia and the far-reaching consequences for current practices of democracy and of Islam itself. In contrast to the thesis of compatibility between Islam and democracy following the dominant discourse of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) and neoliberal democracy, this study situates Islamic politics in broader social settings by examining its nature and trajectories throughout Indonesia’s modern political history. The book thus investigates how the practices of Islamic politics, or Islamism, have shaped and been transformed through political contestations and the formation of coalitions of multiple forces in constructing Indonesia’s socio-political landscape. Using the concept of hegemony from poststructuralist discourse theory, the analytical framework applied in this book goes beyond liberal epistemologies of Islamism that prescribe the separation of religion from politics and treat Islamism as an object of intervention. Instead, the book is premised on the contention that Indonesia is a political construction,  in which Islam has become one of the major discourses that have defined and transformed Indonesia’s nation-state throughout history. In this view, it is argued that the nature and dynamics of Islamism are not driven primarily by different interpretations of religious doctrines, cultural norms or by the imperative of institutions. Rather, the struggles of different Islamist projects in their quest for hegemony are contingent on the outcomes of socio-political changes and contestations that involve multiple political forces, both within and beyond the Islamists, in specific historical conjunctures.

Full Product Details

9789811996634

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Islamism and the Quest for Hegemony in Indonesia is an important and timely contribution to the literature on political Islam in Indonesia. The book provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of the historical … political factors that have shaped the growth of Islamism in the country, as well as the challenges and opportunities it presents for Indonesia’s future. It is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between Islamism and politics in Indonesia.” (Fariz Alnizar, Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, Vol. 179 (2), 2023)

Author Information

Luqman Nul Hakim is a lecturer at the Department of International Relations and a director at the Institute of International Studies (IIS), Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available