Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Contemporary Islam 1/2015

01-01-2015

The KTP Quandary: Islam, the Ahmadiyya, and the reproduction of Indonesian Nationalism

Author: Daniel C. Bottomley

Published in: Contemporary Islam | Issue 1/2015

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

The history of Islam and Indonesian nationalism has been one of constant contestation and acquiescence. Although a new openness in discussing Islamic issues has emerged within Indonesia since President Suharto’s rule came to an end, past logics of national cohesion have not dissipated and have in fact contributed to the upheaval over the Ahmadiyya’s position as Indonesian Muslims and Indonesians. Exploring Indonesian Identification Cards (Kartu Tanda Penduduk, otherwise known as KTP), which currently require every applying Indonesian citizen to self-identify with one of six religious options: (1) Islam; (2) Christianity; (3) Catholicism; (4) Hinduism; (5) Buddhism; and (6) Confucianism, I argue that despite the 2008 Indonesian Joint-Ministerial Decree categorizing the Ahmadis as deviant Muslims, KTP offers the group an opportunity to publically declare and receive official recognition of their Muslim identity from the Indonesian government. Thus, a situation has emerged in which contradictory governmental action problematizes religious categories and illuminates the paradoxical nature of Indonesian nationalism.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
A common misnomer when discussing the Ahmadiyya in Indonesia is to essentialize the sect into a single monolith, when in fact, there are two factions that have quite different understandings of Islam and the role of their shared founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. For Gerakan Ahmadiyya Indonesia (GAI), Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is considered a reformer who provided spiritual inspiration and leadership to Muslims. For Jama’ah Ahmadiyya Indonesia (JAI), Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a Prophet without a holy book. This belief is considered taboo amongst the majority of the Muslim community because there is an understanding of the Seal of the Prophethood in Islam which states that Muhammad is the last Prophet to be seen on Earth until the end of days. While non-governmental bodies such as the Indonesia Ulama Council do not differentiate the groups, the Indonesian Joint-Ministerial Decree under discussion in this article is specific in its reference to JAI, and does not include GAI. Therefore hereafter, when using the term ‘Ahmadiyya’, I am referring to JAI members.
 
2
In Indonesian SARA stands for Suku, Agama, Ras, Antar Golongan.
 
3
The Mosque offices also provided further symbolic evidence of the entwinement of Islam, the nation, and the state in Indonesia. On the walls of the offices were typical photographs of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and subsequent leaders of the movement as well as pictures of various dignitaries and in bookshelves were various Islamic texts. However, also hanging above one of the doors was the national symbol of Indonesia, a Garuda with the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) gripped within its talons, and photographs of the Indonesian President and Vice-President. Thus, even in a small office in Surabaya we see an everyday tableau of the phenomena under investigation in this piece.
 
Literature
go back to reference Ananta, A., Nurvidya Arfin, E., & Suryadinata, L. (2004). Indonesian electoral behaviour : a statistical perspective. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Ananta, A., Nurvidya Arfin, E., & Suryadinata, L. (2004). Indonesian electoral behaviour : a statistical perspective. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
go back to reference Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities : reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism (p. 2006). London: Verso. Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities : reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism (p. 2006). London: Verso.
go back to reference Austin, J. L. (1975). How to do things with words. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRef Austin, J. L. (1975). How to do things with words. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Austin, J. L., Urmson, J. O., & Warnock, G. J. (1979). Philosophical papers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef Austin, J. L., Urmson, J. O., & Warnock, G. J. (1979). Philosophical papers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Bertrand, J. (2004). Nationalism and ethnic conflict in Indonesia. New York: Cambridge University Press. Bertrand, J. (2004). Nationalism and ethnic conflict in Indonesia. New York: Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Billig, M. (1995). Banal nationalism. London: Sage. Billig, M. (1995). Banal nationalism. London: Sage.
go back to reference Butler, J. (1997). Excitable speech : a politics of the performative. New York: Routledge. Butler, J. (1997). Excitable speech : a politics of the performative. New York: Routledge.
go back to reference Edensor, T. (2002). National identity, popular culture and everyday life. Oxford: Berg. Edensor, T. (2002). National identity, popular culture and everyday life. Oxford: Berg.
go back to reference Elson, R. E. (2010). Nationalism, Islam, ‘Secularism’ and the State in contemporary Indonesia. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 64(3), 328–43.CrossRef Elson, R. E. (2010). Nationalism, Islam, ‘Secularism’ and the State in contemporary Indonesia. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 64(3), 328–43.CrossRef
go back to reference Hatta, M. (1977). The Crisis of the P.P.P.K.I. In C.L.M. Penders (Ed.), Indonesia: selected documents on colonialism and nationalism, 1830–1942 (pp. 326–327). St. Lucia, Queensland: Queensland University Press. Hatta, M. (1977). The Crisis of the P.P.P.K.I. In C.L.M. Penders (Ed.), Indonesia: selected documents on colonialism and nationalism, 1830–1942 (pp. 326–327). St. Lucia, Queensland: Queensland University Press.
go back to reference Hefner, R. (1997). Islamization and democratization in Indonesia. In R. Hefner & P. Horvatich (Eds.), Islam in an Era of Nation-States: Politics and religious renewal in Muslim Southeast Asia (pp. 75–128). Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press. Hefner, R. (1997). Islamization and democratization in Indonesia. In R. Hefner & P. Horvatich (Eds.), Islam in an Era of Nation-States: Politics and religious renewal in Muslim Southeast Asia (pp. 75–128). Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.
go back to reference Hefner, R. (2000). Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Hefner, R. (2000). Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
go back to reference Hefner, R. (2008). A Conservative turn in Indonesian Islam? Genesis and future. In L. Assyaukanie, R. Hefner, A. Azra, Muslim politics and democratisation in Indonesia. Clayton, Victoria: Monash University Press. Hefner, R. (2008). A Conservative turn in Indonesian Islam? Genesis and future. In L. Assyaukanie, R. Hefner, A. Azra, Muslim politics and democratisation in Indonesia. Clayton, Victoria: Monash University Press.
go back to reference Loxley, J. (2007). Performativity. London: Routledge. Loxley, J. (2007). Performativity. London: Routledge.
go back to reference Navaro-Yashin, Y. (2002). Faces of the State : Secularism and public life in Turkey. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Navaro-Yashin, Y. (2002). Faces of the State : Secularism and public life in Turkey. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
go back to reference Özkirimli, U. (2000). Theories of nationalism : a critical introduction. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Özkirimli, U. (2000). Theories of nationalism : a critical introduction. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
go back to reference Spencer, P., & Wollman, H. (2002). Nationalism : a critical introduction. London: Sage. Spencer, P., & Wollman, H. (2002). Nationalism : a critical introduction. London: Sage.
go back to reference Stanley. (2006). The media as a control and as a Spur for acts of violence. In C. Coppel (Ed.), Violent conflicts in Indonesia: analysis, representation, resolution (pp. 195–205). London: Routledge. Stanley. (2006). The media as a control and as a Spur for acts of violence. In C. Coppel (Ed.), Violent conflicts in Indonesia: analysis, representation, resolution (pp. 195–205). London: Routledge.
go back to reference Strassler, K. (2010). Refracted visions: popular photography and national modernity in Java. Durham: Duke University Press.CrossRef Strassler, K. (2010). Refracted visions: popular photography and national modernity in Java. Durham: Duke University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Sukarno. (1977). The quest for national unity. In C. L. M. Penders (Ed.), Indonesia: selected documents on colonialism and Nationalism, 1830–1942 (pp. 308–311). St. Lucia: Queensland University Press. Sukarno. (1977). The quest for national unity. In C. L. M. Penders (Ed.), Indonesia: selected documents on colonialism and Nationalism, 1830–1942 (pp. 308–311). St. Lucia: Queensland University Press.
go back to reference Wedeen, L. (1999). Ambiguities of domination: politics, rhetoric, and symbols in contemporary Syria. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Wedeen, L. (1999). Ambiguities of domination: politics, rhetoric, and symbols in contemporary Syria. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
go back to reference Wedeen, L. (2008). Peripheral visions : publics, power, and performance in Yemen. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRef Wedeen, L. (2008). Peripheral visions : publics, power, and performance in Yemen. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Weiss, M. (2002). The body of the nation: Terrorism and the embodiment of nationalism in contemporary Israel. Anthropological Quarterly, 75(1), 37–62.CrossRef Weiss, M. (2002). The body of the nation: Terrorism and the embodiment of nationalism in contemporary Israel. Anthropological Quarterly, 75(1), 37–62.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The KTP Quandary: Islam, the Ahmadiyya, and the reproduction of Indonesian Nationalism
Author
Daniel C. Bottomley
Publication date
01-01-2015
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Contemporary Islam / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1872-0218
Electronic ISSN: 1872-0226
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-014-0302-2

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Contemporary Islam 1/2015 Go to the issue