Why has religious radicalism flourished in Indonesia since the Reform Era?
Alexandre Pelletier, a researcher from Cornell University, USA, sought answers through a study focusing on the mobilization of fundamentalist Islam in Java. The results of his research, conducted in 2014-2015 as part of his doctoral program, were recently published in Comparative Politics.
Pelletier’s findings are not entirely surprising. They reinforce assumptions widely held by the public. His research points to West Java as a particularly fertile ground for religious radicalism and militant groups compared to regions like East Java or Central Java.
One intriguing conclusion from Pelletier’s research is that religious radicalism tends to thrive in communities where religious authority is weak. In other words, in areas where religious leaders and institutions lack dominant influence, or are competing for authority, radicalism finds fertile ground.
Pelletier studied the mobilization of fundamentalist Islamic groups across Java, with one of the most prominent examples being the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). He describes FPI as a militant group known for mobilizing—often violently—against what they deem immoral or deviant.
Pelletier also highlights that groups like FPI and other militant organizations have played a significant role in heightening religious polarization and populism in Indonesia, which had little room to grow before the Reform Era.
Pelletier’s study shows that out of the six provinces in Java, West Java has the highest concentration of militant Islamic groups and the most frequent instances of mass mobilization. Some areas around West Java have experienced rapid growth in fundamentalist Islamic groups and consistent mobilization efforts.
According to Pelletier, nearly 60% of violent mobilization incidents in Java since 1998 have occurred in West Java, compared to only 10% in East Java.