<![CDATA[The development of Indonesian civilization and Islam has been closely intertwined, evolving dynamically and progressively in response to domestic and global political developments, even prior to Indonesia’s emergence as an independent nation. In his 718-page book, Observing Islam in Indonesia, 1971–2023: A Study in Cultural Anthropology, Emeritus Professor Mitsuo Nakamura presents the findings of more than five decades of observing Islam in Indonesia through two major Islamic organizations, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Nakamura’s independence as a scholar is evident in his candid and straightforward presentation of events and developments based largely on his own observations and experiences. The book provides an important perspective for understanding the dynamics of these two organizations and their evolving relationship with Indonesian government policies. Nevertheless, one of the book’s limitations lies in its compilation of previously published writings that originally appeared in different media outlets and at different points in time. This structure, while reflecting the breadth of Nakamura’s long-term observations, may result in some fragmentation in the presentation and analysis of the subject matter.]]>
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