Strategies for Preventing Radicalism: A Case Study at Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School)

Bachtra Dona Lubis (Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu)
Suhirman Suhirman (Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu)
Kasmantoni Kasmantoni (Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu)

Jurnal Indonesia Studi Moderasi Beragama
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): JISMB, Volume 2, Issue 2 (2025): October-March Period

Background: This study examines the strategies employed at Pondok Pesantren Makrifatul Ilmi in South Bengkulu to prevent radicalism, a growing concern in educational institutions, especially Islamic boarding schools. Objective: The primary objective is to identify the steps taken by the pesantren to combat radicalization and to assess the factors that support and hinder these efforts. Method: A descriptive qualitative approach was employed to collect data through interviews, observations, and documentation. Result: The findings reveal that the pesantren implements three key strategies: religious functions, educational activities, and social engagement. Supporting factors include heightened student awareness, strong internal cooperation within the pesantren, and active parental involvement. However, the study also highlights several challenges, including students' diverse social backgrounds, varying interpretations of nationalism, and the pervasive influence of technology. Conclusion: While the pesantren's strategies for preventing radicalism are effective, overcoming these barriers requires sustained cooperation and adaptability. Originality/Value: This case report provides significant empirical and contextual novelty in the field of Islamic education and counter radicalism studies by documenting the institutional implementation of three core strategies encompassing religious functions, educational activities, and social engagement alongside the dynamics of supporting factors and localized challenges such as student diversity, varied interpretations of nationalism, and digital media influence regarding radicalism prevention in a regional Islamic boarding school, which remains limitedly documented in scholarship outside major educational hubs. This examination provides deep contextual insights and serves as a strategic reference, contributing to institutional decision making, the design of community based deradicalization initiatives, and the handling of similar vulnerability risks in Islamic boarding schools.