Events

CHAIRPERSON

Dr Michelle Miller, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.

ABSTRACT

Much of the current scholarships on globalization and Islam in Muslim-majority countries focus on the political discourses of conservative/fundamentalist Islamic groups such as Al Qaeda and Hamas. Fewer scholarships have examined the role of globalization of ideas in influencing the political discourse of progressive/liberal leaning Islamic groups such as the Gulen Movement (GM) from Turkey and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) from Indonesia. Utilizing social constructivist theory, this study attempts to make a theoretically informed cross-regional comparison between NU and GM Movements. It analyzes similar and different strategies utilize by these groups to promote and institutionalize progressive Islamic ideas – defined in this study as theological support toward democracy, human rights, and religious tolerance — within their respective societies.

The reasons why NU and GM managed to institutionalize progressive Islam within their respective socieities are twofolds: 1) Both are accustomed to incorporate unorthodox ideational influence, such as Sufism and localized Islamic teachings, making the adaptation of Western liberal ideas within both groups easier, and 2) The promotion of progressive ideas within the two groups was articulated by well-respected charismatic leaders: Abdurrahman Wahid (NU) and Fethulah Gulen (GM), who commands strong moral authority within these organizations.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Alexander R. Arifianto is currently a Visiting Fellow with the Indonesian Studies Programme, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore. Previously, he was a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the University of Notre Dame and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Miami. Dr Arifianto earned his PhD in political science from Arizona State University in August 2012. His dissertation, “Faith, Moral Authority, and Politics: The Making of Progressive Islam in Indonesia,” examines the role of religious leadership and organizational culture in promoting or preventing the institutionalization of liberal Islamic ideas that are compatible with democracy, human rights, and religious tolerance within two leading Indonesian Islamic groups: Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.Dr Arifianto’s ongoing research in ISEAS include the 2014 Indonesian legislative and presidential elections, Islamic parties and social movements in Indonesia, and social media in Indonesian politics.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP Sharon via email: arios@nus.edu.sg