Politicization of Islam and Islamization of Politics in Indonesia: A Sociological Perspective

Abstract

Valorising religion in politics lays out the social aspect of religion itself, categorically clustered in political sociology of religion. Religion and politics, due to their very nature as social institutions, cannot be separated but must be precisely analysed in a binary perspective. Sociologically, the relationship between these two institutions can take two extreme forms. By nature, religion tends to contribute to society in civilization. By choice, religion can manifest its contribution to society in two ways, either domination or periphery. More specifically on peace studies, therefore, the genealogical problem goes straight to the very peaceful aspect of religion – that is characterized by the esoteric mysticism of religion. As every single religion has its own internal plurality, institutional religion has proved itself to deliver its peaceful aspect to the society. In Indonesia, the existence of “cultural Islam” is often considered as an anti-thesis toward “political Islam”. An indirect logic from this stipulation refers to a possibility that “cultural Islam” has been more successful in delivering the peaceful aspect of Islam rather than “political Islam”. This article aims to take a deeper look at Islam as a mass religion in the Indonesian politics, especially in its politicizing peaceful aspect to the wider community.