Indonesia: Islam and politics since 1942 - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Formichi, Chiara
Leiden
Brill
(5,437 words)
The relationship between Islam and politics in Indonesia since 1942 has often been reshaped, alternating between government co-optation and repression, expansion and contraction. During the Japanese occupation of 1942-5, Muslims in general were sought as a source for support, but in the first phase of Indonesia's independence, President Sukarno (in office 1945-67) strove to keep Islam out of politics. Following the regime change that brought General Suharto to power (in office 1967-98), Muslim activists were first used to counter communism and then violently repressed. Religious