The Influence of Islamic Identity Politics on Thought Patterns and Social Life in the Perception of Gen Z

Taufik Ismail Shobirin; Ahmad Arizzal Rahman; Muhammad Husni Zakaria; Achmad Faqihuddin; Citra Orwela

doi:10.30762/edudeena.v8i2.3843

Authors

Taufik Ismail Shobirin Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Ahmad Arizzal Rahman Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Muhammad Husni Zakaria Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Achmad Faqihuddin Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Citra Orwela Flinders University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30762/edudeena.v8i2.3843

Keywords:

Gen Z perception, Islamic identity politics, political campaign

Abstract

This study aims to explore Gen Z's perceptions of Islamic identity politics in Indonesia and its impact on their mindset and social life. This study uses a quantitative approach with a survey method of 62 respondents, the majority of whom are students. Data were collected through a Likert-based questionnaire designed to measure respondents' understanding and views on identity politics. The results showed that 43.5% of respondents considered Islamic identity politics to have the potential to divide society, while 51.6% of respondents considered the use of religious symbols in political campaigns to be quite effective. In addition, 77.5% of respondents acknowledged the major role of social media in shaping their views. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, which showed a significant relationship between identity politics and Generation Z's mindset and social life. This is manifested by the important role of a more inclusive approach in religious-based political policies in Indonesia. This finding is able to reflect how the younger generation is increasingly aware of complex social and political issues and shows their tendency to assess religious issues more rationally and openly. Therefore, this study provides an important contribution in understanding the dynamics of identity politics from the perspective of the younger generation who will be the main actors in the future of Indonesian democracy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abduljaber, M. (2018). The Determinants of Political Cleavages in Jordan, Tunisia, and Yemen: An Analysis of Political Attitudes Structure in the Arab World. Digest of Middle East Studies, 27(1), 97–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/dome.12132

Ahmad, J., Wafi, M. H., Mushkalamzai, Z., & Hadi, A. A. (2023). Multiculturalism and identity politics: Reading on the Religious Harmony Forum. IBDA` : Jurnal Kajian Islam Dan Budaya, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.24090/ibda.v21i2.7885

Arjon, S. S. (2018). Religious Sentiments In Local Politics. Jurnal Politik, 3(2), 171. https://doi.org/10.7454/jp.v3i2.123

Bilodeau, A., Turgeon, L., White, S., & Henderson, A. (2018). Strange bedfellows? Attitudes toward minority and majority religious symbols in the public sphere. Politics and Religion, 11(2), 309–333. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048317000748

Castle, J. J., Layman, G. C., Campbell, D. E., & Green, J. C. (2017). Survey Experiments on Candidate Religiosity, Political Attitudes, and Vote Choice. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 56(1), 143–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12311

Fauzan, I., Arifin, A., Dalimunthe, M. A., & Rahmadani, S. (2024). The configuration of ethnic and religious relations towards the 2024 general election: A case study in Medan, Indonesia. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6(3), 2024006. https://doi.org/10.31893/MULTISCIENCE.2024006

Fitri, A. N., Fitri, F., Fabriar, S. R., Rachmawati, F., & Hilmi, M. (2023). Gen Z voter behavior in the 2024 presidential election: A virtual ethnographic study on the Instagram accounts of presidential candidates. Islamic Communication Journal, 8(2), 285–302. https://doi.org/10.21580/icj.2023.8.2.18945

Fuad, A. (2024). The identity of political islam in a democratic regime: the ideology of the prosperious justice party (pks), indonesia and the justice and development party (akp), turkey. Islamica Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 18(2), 167–194. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15642/islamica.2024.18.2.167-194

Hanan, D. (2020). Identity Politics in the 2019 Indonesian General Elections: Its Significance and Limitation. JWP (Jurnal Wacana Politik), 5(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.24198/jwp.v5i1.27710

Hidayah, S. (2012). The politics of religion the invention of “agama” in indonesia. Jurnal Kawistara, 2(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22146/kawistara.3967

Ida, R., Saud, M., & Mashud, M. (2020). An empirical analysis of social media usage, political learning and participation among youth: a comparative study of indonesia and pakistan. Quality & Quantity, 54(4), 1285–1297. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-020-00985-9

Iqbal Zubaidi, M. (2024). Impact of Identity Politics on Security and Stability in Medan. Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, 5(4), 1539–1546. https://doi.org/10.59141/jist.v5i4.1029

Kurniawan, A., & Alhaq, A. (2020). Muslimness Discourse, Religious Authority, and Cyber-Media Activism in Contemporary Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.1-10-2019.2291731

Leira, C., Lee, F., Smith, J., Quin, J., & Maul, J. (2023). Using Religious Symbols and Religious Teachings to Cope during Times of Adversity. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 390–399. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijssh.2023.v13.1176

Lindner, A. M. (2024). The new generationalism: Generational antagonism and partisan polarization. Sociological Forum. https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.13017

Lubis, F. H., Nasution, F. A., & Harahap, R. H. (2024). The Commodification of Religious Rituals: Representations of Political Actors in Indonesian Elections. Pharos Journal of Theology, 105(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.105.214

Mashud, M., Ida, R., & Saud, M. (2022). Political discussions lead to political efficacy among students in indonesia. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 8(1), 184–200. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/20578911221143674

Merrilees, C. E., Taylor, L. K., Goeke-Morey, M. C., Shirlow, P., & Cummings, E. M. (2014). Youth in contexts of political violence: A developmental approach to the study of youth identity and emotional security in their communities. Peace and Conflict, 20(1), 26–38. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035581

Miichi, K. (2014). The Role of Religion and Ethnicity in Jakarta’s 2012 Gubernatorial Election. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 33(1), 55–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/186810341403300104

Mikail, K., Ibrahimian, H., Idi, A., & Hadi, A. (2023). Dynamics of Civil Islam in Identity Politics of Indonesia and Malaysia. Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama Dan Lintas Budaya, 7(2), 189–198. https://doi.org/10.15575/rjsalb.v7i2.27677

Mukrimin. (2012). Islamic parties and the politics of constitutionalism in Indonesia. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 6(2), 367–390. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2012.6.2.367-390

Pramono, M. F., Latief, M., & Putri, H. A. (2023). Crisis Studies of The Discourse of Identity Politics in Indonesia from The Perspective of Asabiyah Ibn Khaldun. Potret Pemikiran, 27(2), 148. https://doi.org/10.30984/pp.v27i2.2651

Pribadi, Y. (2022). Sekolah Islam (Islamic Schools) as Symbols of Indonesia’s Urban Muslim Identity. TRaNS: Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia, 10(2), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1017/trn.2021.15

Ribberink, E., Achterberg, P., & Houtman, D. (2013). Deprivatization of disbelief?: Non-religiosity and anti-religiosity in 14 western European countries. Politics and Religion, 6(1), 101–120. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048312000740

Sahlan, M. (2023). Digital Theocracy Strategy In The 2024 Presidential Election Campaign: Its Influence On Public Opinion And Voter Choice. Eduvest - Journal of Universal Studies, 3(10), 1883–1891. https://doi.org/10.59188/eduvest.v3i10.936

Shadiqi, M., Muluk, H., & Milla, M. (2018). Palestinian solidarity action: the dynamics of politicized and religious identity patterns among student activists. Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 22(2), 118. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7454/hubs.asia.1140818

Sipa, A. M. D., Wadi, H., & Fahrurrazi, F. (2021). Religion and Politics: Symbolization of Religion in the contestation of legislative elections 2019. Kawanua International Journal of Multicultural Studies, 2(2), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.30984/kijms.v2i2.63

Suhariyanto, D. (2024). Identity Politics Violations in Indonesian Elections. Devotion : Journal of Research and Community Service, 5(5), 558–563. https://doi.org/10.59188/devotion.v5i5.720

Syarif, Z., A. Mughni, S., & Hannan, A. (2020). Post-truth and Islamophobia narration in the contemporary Indonesian political constellation. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 10(2), 199–225. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v10i2.199-225

Syarif, Z., & Hannan, A. (2020). Islamic Populism Politics and Its Threat to Indonesian Democracy. Al-Tahrir: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 20(2), 251–277. https://doi.org/10.21154/altahrir.v20i2.2128

Wahyudi, F. E., Paramasatya, S., & Dir, A. A. B. (2022). The Emerging of Islamic Identities, Sarungan vs Cingkrangan under Democratic Regime in Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.14-9-2021.2321382

Wahyuningroem, S. L., Sirait, R., Uljanatunnisa, U., & Heryadi, D. (2024). Youth political participation and digital movement in Indonesia: the case of #ReformasiDikorupsi and #TolakOmnibusLaw. F1000Research, 12, 534. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.122669.3

Yasdin, Y., Parenrengi, S., Hasriani, H., & Mahande, R. D. (2023). Policies and politics development of vocational education in Indonesia: a historical perspective. Asian Education and Development Studies, 12(4-5), 297–309. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-06-2023-0059

Zaduqisti, E., Mashuri, A., Zuhri, A., Haryati, T. A., & Ula, M. (2020). On being moderate and peaceful: Why Islamic political moderateness promotes outgroup tolerance and reconciliation. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 42(3), 359–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0084672420931204

Zaluchu, S., Karnadhi, S., Widjaja, F., & Siahaan, H. (2019). Legitimation of Religious Symbols in Politics: Descriptive Analysis of The Narration of Indonesian Election Campaign 2019. https://doi.org/10.2991/icdesa-19.2019.13

Zeng, S., Wu, L., & Liu, T. (2020). Religious identity and public pro‐environmental behavior in China: The mediating role of environmental risk perception. Religions, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11040165