Pesantren and Politics: Fostering Civil Society-Oriented Political Consciousness in a Muslim Society
Abstract
Political polarization has occurred in Pesantren in the 1999 election, where the kiais involved various political parties. This study aims to examine the politics of the pesantren Annuqayah in Madura and analyze the contribution of it in political democratization and civil society. Although the kiais have different political affiliations, the relationships among kiais, santris, and alumni remain harmonious without open conflict. This phenomenon is crucial to study because it demonstrates the pesantren’s role in fostering healthy and constructive political awareness in society. This article is based on a field study employing a qualitative approach, drawing on the perspectives of social capital and phenomenology. The results show that political democratization in the pesantren is built on respect for the moral authority of kiais, the practice of citizenship values based on the principles of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah (aswaja), and the strengthening of the tradition of "silaturahim" among kiais, alumni, and the community. These values serve as the foundation for forming an inclusive, religious, and democratic civil society at the local level.
References
Aryati, Ani, and A. Suradi. “The Implementation of Religious Tolerance: Study on Pesantren Bali Bina Insani with Bali Hindus Communities.” Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun 10, no. 2 (2022): 471–90. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v10i2.646.
Azra, Azyumardi. Islam Nusantara, Jaringan Global Dan Lokal. Mizan; Steenbrink, 1986.
Azra, Azyumardi. Menuju Masyarakat Madani; Gagasan, Fakta, Dan Tantangan. Remaja Rosdakarya, 1999.
Bruinessen, Martin van. Kitab Kuning, Pesantren Dan Tarekat. Revision. Gading Publishing, 2012.
Bukhori Muslim, Ahmad, Jarman Arroisi, Jariah Mohd Jan, and Ridho Ramazani. “Indonesian Pesantren -Affiliated Higher Education: Universal Islamic Values to Develop Locally Engaged but Globally Oriented Multilingual Graduates.” Research in Post-Compulsory Education 29, no. 1 (2024): 138–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2285633.
Burhani, Ahmad Najib. “Al-Tawassuṭ Wa-l I‘tidāl: The NU and Moderatism in Indonesian Islam.” Asian Journal of Social Science 40, nos. 5–6 (2012): 564–81. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685314-12341262.
Dewi, Ratna, and Muslim Ansori. “Fostring Religious Harmony through Islamic Boarding Schools at Islamic Boarding School Darussholah IV and Dalilul Khoirot an-Nawawi Bangka Belitung.” MIQOT: Jurnal Ilmu-ilmu Keislaman 47, no. 2 (2023): 2. https://doi.org/10.30821/miqot.v47i2.992.
Dhofier, Zamakhsyari. Tradisi Pesantren: Peran Kyai Dalam Pemeliharaan Islam Tradisional Di Jawa. LP3ES, 1994.
Falaakh, Muhammad Fajrul. “Nahdlatul Ulama Dan Masyarakat Sipil Di Indonesia.” In Islam Dan Masyarakat Sipil Di Asia Tenggara, edited by Mitsuo Nakamura, Omar Farouk Bajunid, and Sharon Shiddique. ISEAS, 2001.
Feillard, Andre. NU Vis a Vis Negara, Pencarian Isi, Bentuk Dan Makna. LKiS, 1999.
Geertz, Clifford. Abangan, Santri, Priyayi Dalam Masyarakat Jawa. Pustaka Jaya, 1983.
Geertz, Clifford. “Kijaji Jawa: Peran Perantara Kebudayaan Yang Berubah.” Studi Komparatif Dalam Masyarakat Dan Sejarah 2, no. 2 (1960).
Hanifan, Lyda Junson. “The Rural School Community Center.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 67 (1916): 130–38.
Hefner, Claire-Marie. “Models of Achievement: Muslim Girls and Religious Authority in a Modernist Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia.” Asian Studies Review 40, no. 4 (2016): 564–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2016.1229266.
Horikoshi, Hiroko. Kiai Dan Perubahan Sosial. Translatio. Edited by Umar Basalim and Andy Muarly Sunrawa. P3M, 1987.
Johns, Anthony H. “Islam in Southeast Asia: Reflections and New Directions.” Indonesia 19 (April 1975): 33. https://doi.org/10.2307/3350701.
Jubba, Hasse, Mustaqim Pabbajah, Irwan Abdullah, and Juhansar. “Reorienting Moral Education for Millennial Muslims: The Changing Role of Islamic Boarding Schools in Indonesia.” The Islamic Quarterly 65, no. 3 (2021): 423–41.
Karim, Abdul, Amsal Bakhtiar, Jamali Sahrodi, and Paul H. Chang. “Spiritual Leadership Behaviors in Religious Workplace: The Case of Pesantren.” International Journal of Leadership in Education, May 27, 2022, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2022.2076285.
Madjid, Nurcholish. Kebebasan Beragama Dan Pluralisme Dalam Islam, Passing Over: Melintas Batas Agama. Gramedia Pustaka Utama dan Paramadina, 2001.
Mashuri, Saepudin, Sauqi Futaqi, and Ahmad Sulhan. “Spiritual Base of Pesantren for Building Multicultural Awareness in Indonesian Context.” Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura 24, no. 1 (2024): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v24i1.17141.
Nurtawab, Ervan, and Dedi Wahyudi. “Restructuring Traditional Islamic Education in Indonesia: Challenges for Pesantren Institution.” Studia Islamika 29, no. 1 (2022): 55–81. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v29i1.17414.
Putnam, Robert D. “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.” Journal of Democracy 6, no. 1 (1995): 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1995.0002.
RAHTIKAWATIE, Yayan, Saifuddin CHALIM, and Teti RATNASIH. “Investigating The Role of Religious Leadership at Indonesia’s Islamic Boarding Schools in The Sustainability of School Management.” Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 21, no. 96 (2021): 51–65. https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2021.96.4.
Raihani. “Report on Multicultural Education in Pesantren.” Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education 42, no. 4 (2012): 585–605. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2012.672255.
Rofiq, Ahmad. “NU/Pesantren Dan Tradisi Pluralisme Dalam Konteks Negara-Bangsa.” In NU/Pesantren Dan Tradisi Pluralisme Dalam Konteks Negara-Bangsa, edited by Ahmad Suaedi. P3M-LKiS, 2000.
Siradj, Said Aqiel, Marzuki Wahid, Suwendi, and Saefuddin Zuhri. Pesantren Masa Depan: Wacana Pemberdayaan Dan Transformasi Pesantren. Pustaka Hidayah, 1999.
Soebardi, S. “The Place of Islam.” In Studi Sejarah Indonesia, edited by McKay. Pitman, 1976.
Steenbrink, Karel A. Pesantren, Madrasah, Sekolah: Pendidikan Islam Dalam Kurun Modern. Lembaga Penelitian, Pendidikan dan Penerangaan Ekonomi dan Sosial (LP3ES), 1986.
Syafe’i, Imam. “PONDOK PESANTREN: Lembaga Pendidikan Pembentukan Karakter.” Al-Tadzkiyyah: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 8, no. 1 (2017): 61. https://doi.org/10.24042/atjpi.v8i1.2097.
Syakroni, Agus, Zamroni, Chusnul Muali, et al. “Motivation And Learning Outcomes Through The Internet Of Things; Learning In Pesantren.” Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1363, no. 1 (2019): 012084. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1363/1/012084.
Ubaidillah, A., and Abdul Rozak. Pancasila, Demokrasi, HAM, Dan Masyarakat Madani. Premadia Group, 2016.
Udin, S. Pesantren Tarikat Suryalaya Surabaya. Dian Rakyat, 1978.
Wahid, Marzuki. Masyarakat Sipil Pondok Pesantren Dan Penguatan. Media Sunda Kelapa, 1999.
Walzer, Michael. “Civil Society Theory.” In International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, 1991.
Wyatt, Robert O., Elihu Katz, and Joohan Kim. “Bridging the Spheres: Political and Personal Conversation in Public and Private Spaces.” Journal of Communication 50, no. 1 (2000): 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02834.x.
FULLTEXT PDF downloaded: 27
Copyright (c) 2025 Ulumuna
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
