From Islamic modernism to Islamic conservatism: the case of West Sumatra Provinces, Indonesia

Abstract

The study of the rise of Islamic conservatism in the context of local politics has not been the main focus of studies on Islamic conservatism in Indonesia. Studies on Islamic conservatism have so far emphasized the national political aspect, which illustrates that there has been a change in the dynamics of Islam towards a conservative turn. This article responds to various studies on Islamic conservatism in Indonesia by focusing on the emergence of local Islamic conservatism movements in West Sumatra Province after the New Order. West Sumatra is one of the regions predominantly inhabited by ethnic Minangkabau, which has long been known as a driving force in the Indonesian Islamic renewal and modernism movement. This research uses a qualitative method, with a case study approach, by interviewing actors, religious groups, traditional and religious leaders, and local Islamic organizations. This study found that the change in the spectrum of Islam from Islamic modernism to Islamic conservatism was influenced by several factors. First, the agency factor of post-New Order political openness was utilized by local Islamic organizations to promote religious conservatism. Second, the structural factor of political opportunities is the momentum in the promotion of Islamic conservatism. Third, Local identity was used as an instrument to promote Islamic conservatism in West Sumatra. This study is different from previous studies, as historical factors are the main factors in the proliferation of local Islamic conservatism movements such as in West Java, South Sulawesi, Solo, and West Sumatra.

Keywords

• Islamic modernism
• Islamic conservatism
• local identity
• local Islamic organizations
• post-new order
• West Sumatra Provinces