Ideological distrust: re-understanding the debate on state ideology, normalization of state-religion relationship, and legal system in Indonesia

Abstract

This study intends to explain the phenomenon of ideological distrust among Indonesian students, the normalization of state-religion relations, and their evaluation of religious law in the national legal system. This study used primary data obtained from a 6-month online survey. It concludes that ideological distrust among students does not correlate with the political track records and capacity of state actors, instead, it correlates with the evaluation of religious norms that these students adhere to. The improvement in the performance quality of public institutions is not capable to reduce the distrust among students toward the state ideology. Meanwhile, Muslim students deem that the normalization of state-religion relations in Indonesia is necessary since the two are not in a harmonious condition and the current legal system still ignores religious norms.

Keywords

• Pancasila
• Ideological distrust
• State-religion relations
• Religious law
• The legal system