LOCAL AGENCY, POVERTY, AND RELIGIOUS FRAMING IN COUNTER-RADICALIZATION: A HYBRID STATE–COMMUNITY MODEL FROM INDONESIA

Sholihul Huda (Uinversitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya)

Justisia Ekonomika
Vol 10 No 1 (2026): Juni

This article critically reassesses counter-radicalization practices in Indonesia, which have long been dominated by security-oriented and state-centric approaches emphasizing surveillance, law enforcement, and ideological control. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of positive peace, the “local turn” in peacebuilding, and post-liberal peace, this study examines how former extremists and local communities simultaneously complement and challenge formal state frameworks in preventing violent extremism. The article focuses on the Yayasan Lingkar Perdamaian (YLP) in East Java, a community-based organization established by former militant networks that has become an important actor in grassroots peacebuilding and social reintegration. The study employs a qualitative case study approach based on fieldwork conducted in 2024, including in-depth interviews, limited participant observation, and document analysis. To assess the effectiveness of community-based counter-radicalization, this article introduces a hybrid evaluation matrix consisting of four interconnected dimensions: material, relational, cognitive-normative, and institutional transformation. The findings demonstrate that economic empowerment through micro-enterprises and cooperatives helps reduce socio-economic vulnerability among former extremists and their families. In addition, processes of social recognition and community engagement gradually erode stigma and rebuild trust. Religious literacy grounded in experiential legitimacy reframes the meaning of jihad from violent struggle into ethics of caregiving, responsibility, and social contribution. The study argues that YLP functions as a hybrid intermediary bridging state capacity and community legitimacy, although it remains vulnerable to co-optation, funding dependence, and institutional fragility. The article concludes by recommending policy co-production, multi-year blended financing, mentor certification, and stronger data governance as foundations for sustainable and locally grounded peacebuilding in the Global South.