Quote Originally Posted by JWing View Post
Ray since 1998 when Suharto stepped down have you seen any of these turn to a strongman tendencies in Indonesia that you say are inherent in Muslim culture?
Indonesia is uniquely different.

It is because of the unique syncretic mix of culture, they being Santri, Abagan and Priyayi.

Santri is the practice of orthodox Islam, who are basically urban and who go to the Mosque, read the Quar'an and follow Sharia.

The Abagan tend to be rural people who have absorbed both the Hindu and Muslim ways and are sort of animist, if you will, and who follow folk tradition, to include beliefs that centres on spirits, magic, and the ceremonial feast or salametan .

The Priyayi are those who follow Hindu Javanese traditions.

Indonesia's political history would give an idea of how Indonesia functions and why it is different.

The Santri played a the key role in Indonesian Nationalist movements, and formed the strongest opposition to President Suharto's New Order army-based administration.

In contrast, the Abangan have tended to follow the prevailing political wind; they supported Sukarno's overt nationalism, while during Suharto's subsequent presidency, they loyally voted for his Golkar party. Poorer Abangan areas became strongholds of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in stark opposition to the orthodox Muslim Santri. The cultural divisions descended into bloody conflict in 1965/66 when Santri were opposed to communists, many of whom were from Abangan streams.

For further details, see

Elections and Politics in Indonesia

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=k...ed=0CDYQ6AEwBw

SANTRI - ABANGAN DICHOTOMY IN TODAY INDONESIA: RECONSIDERED

http://sudirmansetiono.blogspot.in/2...-in-today.html