Civil Islam

Muslims and Democratization in Indonesia

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology
Cover of the book Civil Islam by Robert W. Hefner, Princeton University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Robert W. Hefner ISBN: 9781400823871
Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication: May 21, 2011
Imprint: Princeton University Press Language: English
Author: Robert W. Hefner
ISBN: 9781400823871
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication: May 21, 2011
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Language: English

Civil Islam tells the story of Islam and democratization in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation. Challenging stereotypes of Islam as antagonistic to democracy, this study of courage and reformation in the face of state terror suggests possibilities for democracy in the Muslim world and beyond.

Democratic in the early 1950s and with rich precedents for tolerance and civility, Indonesia succumbed to violence. In 1965, Muslim parties were drawn into the slaughter of half a million communists. In the aftermath of this bloodshed, a "New Order" regime came to power, suppressing democratic forces and instituting dictatorial controls that held for decades. Yet from this maelstrom of violence, repressed by the state and denounced by conservative Muslims, an Islamic democracy movement emerged, strengthened, and played a central role in the 1998 overthrow of the Soeharto regime. In 1999, Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid was elected President of a reformist, civilian government.

In explaining how this achievement was possible, Robert Hefner emphasizes the importance of civil institutions and public civility, but argues that neither democracy nor civil society is possible without a civilized state. Against portrayals of Islam as inherently antipluralist and undemocratic, he shows that Indonesia's Islamic reform movement repudiated the goal of an Islamic state, mobilized religiously ecumenical support, promoted women's rights, and championed democratic ideals. This broadly interdisciplinary and timely work heightens our awareness of democracy's necessary pluralism, and places Indonesia at the center of our efforts to understand what makes democracy work.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Civil Islam tells the story of Islam and democratization in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation. Challenging stereotypes of Islam as antagonistic to democracy, this study of courage and reformation in the face of state terror suggests possibilities for democracy in the Muslim world and beyond.

Democratic in the early 1950s and with rich precedents for tolerance and civility, Indonesia succumbed to violence. In 1965, Muslim parties were drawn into the slaughter of half a million communists. In the aftermath of this bloodshed, a "New Order" regime came to power, suppressing democratic forces and instituting dictatorial controls that held for decades. Yet from this maelstrom of violence, repressed by the state and denounced by conservative Muslims, an Islamic democracy movement emerged, strengthened, and played a central role in the 1998 overthrow of the Soeharto regime. In 1999, Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid was elected President of a reformist, civilian government.

In explaining how this achievement was possible, Robert Hefner emphasizes the importance of civil institutions and public civility, but argues that neither democracy nor civil society is possible without a civilized state. Against portrayals of Islam as inherently antipluralist and undemocratic, he shows that Indonesia's Islamic reform movement repudiated the goal of an Islamic state, mobilized religiously ecumenical support, promoted women's rights, and championed democratic ideals. This broadly interdisciplinary and timely work heightens our awareness of democracy's necessary pluralism, and places Indonesia at the center of our efforts to understand what makes democracy work.

More books from Princeton University Press

Cover of the book Homology, Genes, and Evolutionary Innovation by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Fréchet Differentiability of Lipschitz Functions and Porous Sets in Banach Spaces (AM-179) by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Implausible Dream by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book The First Serious Optimist by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Digital Dice by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book One Hundred Semesters by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book From the Ground Up by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book The Search for Mathematical Roots, 1870-1940 by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Female Acts in Greek Tragedy by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Culture, 1922 by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Power to the People by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book John Napier by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book The Many Deaths of Jew Süss by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Philosophy of Biology by Robert W. Hefner
Cover of the book Unequal and Unrepresented by Robert W. Hefner
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy