Islamic nationhood and colonial indonesia (original) (raw)
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ISLAM AND NATION FORMATION IN INDONESIA
This thesis deals with Islam and nation formation in Indonesla. It attempts to describe the particular re!atlonship between Islam and the development of the Indonesian nation. It examines the role of Islam in promoting the process of nation formation in Indonesla until the early 1930''s. Since the coming of Islam to the Archipelago, the ulama and their writings played a central role in the integration of the Malay world. The use of the Malay language as a Iingua franca accelerated the process of integration as well as the process of mutual understanding among the people, the majority of whom were Muslim. When European colonialism appeared on the scene, the Muslims resisted it labelling the foreigners as non-Muslims. Opposition came from the royal, the aristocratic and the ulamâ sectors. All in their way demonstrated resistance to every aspect of impenahsm and colonialism. At the beginning of the 20th century, Muslims began to turn ta socio-religious organizations in their efforts to achieve independence. This was a period of significant Muslims contributions to Indonesian nasionalism. Some favored a structural approach whlle others pursued a cultural means. Indeed, people began ta think in more democratic terms, and began to reahze their interior position within the colonial system. The response of the colonial government helped, in spite of itself, to foster national unity. The significance of this thesis lies in the fact that there has not yet been any attempt to trace the background of the formation of the Indonesian state with partlcular reference to the role of Islam.
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Islam, Humanity and the Indonesian Identity : Reflections on History
leiden university centre for the study of islam and society (lucis) series 'debates on islam and society' Leiden University Press At present important debates about Islam and society take place both in the West and in the Muslim world itself. Academics have considerable expertise on many of the key issues in these debates, which they would like to make available to a larger audience. In its turn, current scholarly research on Islam and Muslim societies is to a certain extent influenced by debates in society. Leiden University has a long tradition in the study of Islam and Muslim societies, past and present, both from a philological and historical perspective and from a social science approach. Its scholars work in an international context, maintaining close ties with colleagues worldwide. The peer reviewed LUCIS series aims at disseminating knowledge on Islam and Muslim societies produced by scholars working at or invited by Leiden University as a contribution to contemporary debates in society.
Islamic identity in the secular environment of Post-colonial Indonesia
The country of Indonesia is not only the world largest Muslim country but also has a diverse culture and history. This paper will try to answer the question of how the historical context and political environment have contributed to shaping the relationship between Islam and (secular) democracy in Indonesia today. By examining remnants of the country’s colonial past, independence from the Dutch in the late 40’s, through the authoritarian regime of Sukarno and The “New Order Administration” and how these periods of the country’s existence have helped shape the socio-religious environment of contemporary Indonesia. By looking at how the socio-religious context interacted with political context of the country during its modernizing transformation after the colonial period, I suggest that the Islam found in Indonesia, exists in a variety of ways but cannot be looked at without taking the historical context into consideration. As a consequence of large diversity among Indonesians both ethnically and religiously, Islam was never a united political force as in other countries. But how does the contemporary political environment affect religious identity construction for contemporary Indonesians? With the socio-religious climate in Indonesia one of dynamism, active participation and as it contains the largest Muslim populous in the world as well as one of the largest growing economies, Indonesia and the relationship between Islam and democracy is of increasing global importance.