Islamic Populism over Minority Rights

Abstract

Previous chapters have discussed at some length how the New Order regime perceived the development programme as the primary way to achieve a total human advancement in both material and spiritual (lahir dan batin) aspects. For that reason it strictly regulated almost all aspects of religious affairs in order to promote piety and at the same time maintain its domination in society. While the above principles on regulating religion remained in place for two decades, from the late 1980s Indonesia’s political landscape shifted gradually. The regime became more accommodative to Islamic demands and symbols and in turn systematically incorporated them in the state system. This shift was mostly due to the roles of young moderate Muslim intellectuals and activists who introduced a new perspective on Islam that was more cultural than political. Although critical of the regime’s methods and some of its policies, they were usually not confrontational or oppositional towards Suharto and were broadly supportive of the New Order’s developmentalist agenda.