Islam and democracy in Jokowi s Indonesia: perceptions, reality and context

Transcription

1 Islam and democracy in Jokowi s Indonesia: perceptions, reality and context THE COMPLEMENTARY PARTNERSHIP The importance of the complementary relationship between Indonesia& Australia to achieve sustainable growth in The Asian Century Greg Barton Herb Feith Research Professor for the Study of Indonesia, Monash University Australia-Indonesia Centre

2 1. Australian attitudes DFAT-Newspoll May 2013

3 Correct knowledge of Indonesia

4 Top of mind breakdown

5 Sentiment drivers good/bad

6 Perceptions vs Facts

7 Views of each other

8 Close relations

9 Importance of building ties

10 Improving ties?

11 Countries most important

12 2. Democratic Transition Successful democratic transition Political and social stability Disillusionment with political parties and leaders Support for the democratic republic Indonesia and Turkey represent the most successful Muslim majority nations

13 Democracy yes!

14 Islamic democracy democratic Islam? Radical Islamism represents the most substantial critique of the legitimacy of liberal democracy in Indonesia How much support is there for radical Islamism? The world s largest Muslim nation has transitioned to democracy but what does Islam have to do with this? Has this occurred because of, or despite, Islam? The civil sphere is the place to look for an answer What has been the contribution of Islam to civil society in Indonesia? This needs to be viewed broadly and over the longer run, as well as in the reform movement of the past two decades

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19 Indonesia: flawed but free

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23 3. Democracy in the Muslim World A. Religion remains important Religion is generally not the driver for protest But it informs values, aspirations and expectations And manifests in the market-place of ideas that accompanies democracy Religion has played an important historical role in dissent and social services

24 B. Social, drivers are paramount Social Economic Political Cultural Demographic

25 C. Democracy is just beginning The modern nation state is a very recent development Most members of the UN were born in the 20 th C Democracy is even more recent In the MENA nations democracy is arriving for the first time it was deferred by Cold War imperatives

26 4. Secular, liberal democracy needs to be negotiated and developed There exists wide-spread desire for democracy But it needs to be developed in the context of local cultural and religious factors Secularity and the appropriate limits of religion remains a work in progress even in the west Secular liberal democracy does not mean the absence of religion in the public square

27 5. Religious and social harmony will face challenges These challenges will be variegated and unpredictable Religious sentiments will be manipulated for cheap politics Religious leaders and communities must be part of the solution But they need wisdom and courage More than ever, they will need to work together

28 6. Islam must have it's place In the Muslim world engaging with culture, tradition and belief requires engaging with Islam Democracy requires allowing Islam a place in public discourse, political discourse, social movements and public life in general But what should that place be? The relationship between religion and the state needs to be mediated through the civil sphere without coercion on any side, independent from the state Secular liberal democracy is the only truly popular option but it must find indigenous form and expression Religious social movements can play a vital and constructive role

29 4. Islam and Democracy in Indonesia Indonesian religious distribution

30 Indonesian ethnic composition

31 Indonesian ethnicity and identity

32 Indonesian religious geography

33 Ideological alignment, 1955 Partai Katolik Parkindo IKPI PSI Masjumi Islamic 44.6% PKI Nationalist 52.4% NU Other 2.8% PNI PSII Perti

34 Ideological alignment, 2014 NasDem PAN PKB PDI-P PD PKS PPP PBB Islamic 16.63% Islamist 15.17% Nationalist 68.21% Hanura Gerindra Golkar

35 Parliamentary election results, popular vote

36 Parliamentary election results, popular vote (Major Nationalist Parties, )

37 Parliamentary election results, popular vote (Major Muslim parties, )

38 5. Challenges from extremism Are pluralism and tolerance under threat in Indonesia?

39 Will bullying and violence in the name of God go unchecked?

40 What does Bhinneka Tunggal Ika mean today?

41 Jokowi s Working Cabinet: Reasons for hope 25% (eight out 34 ministers) are women, including Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi 25% from outside of Java, including Minister for Women s Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Susana Yembise, who is a Papuan professor of education. 60% of the cabinet (20) are under the age of % of the ministers have PhDs 65% have postgraduate qualifications, mostly from American, Australian, British or EU universities. Key posts are in safe, centrist, hands. Many are self-made business people.

42 Religious Affairs Lukman Saifuddin (PPP)

43 Islamic state and foreign fighters

44 Limited, but significant support for IS

45 300 plus foreign fighters

46 Commitment to ISIS could prove deadly