Cultural Capital, Islamism, and Political Distrust in Pemilu 2019: An Ethnicity-based Community Engaged in Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)

Abstract

Although there have been many studies investigating Islamist movements and their views concerning the relationship between Islam and politics, very rare studies examining the ways particular ethnicity-based Islamist group invent and revitalize their cultural capital in dealing with Islamism. Based on the case of the role of FPI (the Islamic Defenders Front) group in Jakarta rejecting the result of Pemilu 2019 (Indonesian General Election), this study aims to investigate the way a young Batavian community that is engaged in the FPI (a semi radical Islamist organization) interpret their Batavian values and tradition in dealing with Islamism. This research uses a case study approach that investigates cultural capital and its influence to a young Batavian community joining the FPI. This study relies more on in-depth interviews with the members as well as observation. Based on the fieldwork this article shows that tension in national political level in Pemilu 2014 and 2019 which polarized society had encouraged these young Batavians to be engaged in an organization connecting them to wider Islamic groups. Instead of Muhammadiyah or Nahdatul Ulama (NU), their cultural capital is more supportive encouraging them to be engaged with the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). Through this engagement in FPI and participation in political distrust rejecting the result of Pemilu 2019 they were not only involved with national issues, but also local issues dealing with their domination as an indigenous group living in an urban area.