Studia Islamika
Vol. 32 No. 1 (2025): Studia Islamika

The Social Scientific Study of Islam in Indonesia: A 75 Year Retrospective

Hefner, Robert W. (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Apr 2025

Abstract

This essay provides an historical overview of broad currents in the social scientific study of Islam in Indonesia from the Modjokuto project of the early 1950s to today. It makes three broad points. First, the essay shows that a perennial influence on the refiguration of Muslim politics and ethics in Indonesia has been, not scriptural principles alone, but the global ascendance of the modern nation state and Muslim intellectuals’ and politicians’ efforts to craft a Muslim public ethics consonant with the realities of a modern and religiously plural nation. Second, the essay shows that another feature of the social scientific study of Islam in Indonesia has been the ascendance of Indonesia-born Muslim intellectuals to positions of intellectual leadership in the field. Third, the overview makes clear that one of the most important recent achievements of this social scientific research has been to explain how Indonesia succeeded in developing the most effective and sustainable democracy in the Muslim-majority world.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

studia-islamika

Publisher

Subject

Religion

Description

STUDIA ISLAMIKA (ISSN 0215-0492) is an international journal published by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM), Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University of Jakarta, Indonesia (STT DEPPEN No. 129/SK/DITJEN/PPG/STT/1976). Focus The journal aims to provide readers with a deeper ...