THE ENTANGLEMENT BETWEEN ANTI-LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM: The INSISTS and MIUMI Effect within the “212 Movement” in Indonesia

This paper delves into a new perspective on the spreading of Islamic populism in Indonesia. It maps the extent of the influence exerted by the network based on the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in Malaysia. In the post-authoritarian era, the ISTAC alumni have contributed to dynamizing Islamic discourse and movement in Indonesia. By engaging their connections throughout the whole country, they promote and spread Al-Attas' works (the idea of Islamization of Knowledge) by establishing an Islamic think-tank, Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought and Civilizations (INSISTS), as well as connect Islamic scholars and preachers from various Islamic organizations (including Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah) by establishing the Council for Young and Intellectual Ulama of Indonesia (MIUMI which played a substantial role during the “411” and “212 movement”. This paper argues that INSISTS and MIUMI are key actors behind the scene of the rise of Islamic populism. It further argues that the synthesis of conservatism and modern Islam among actors had resulted in INSISTS and MIUMI’s agenda getting easily accepted by Muslim communities in Indonesia.