Symbols of Diversity in Political Contestation During the 2019 Presidential Election and 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections (Perspective of Santri at the North Coast of Central Java)

Abstract

This study describes the perspective of Santri from the North Coast of Central Java on the capitalization of religious symbols in political contestation during the 2019 presidential election and the 2020 simultaneous regional elections. Political elites strategically used religious symbols to secure victory for their presidential and regional leader candidates. Capitalizing religious symbols is believed to signify the rise of identity politics and the decline of nationalism in Indonesian society. The people of the North Coast of Central Java, specifically the Santri, have been directly affected by the intensification of this matter during the period of political contestation in the 2019 presidential election and the simultaneous regional elections in 2020 throughout the archipelago. The Santri from the North Coast of Central Java, known as traditionalist Santri, has a paternalistic attitude towards Kyai and has a significant position and influence in the politics of Indonesia. This is particularly relevant in light of the prevalent usage of religious symbols to gain support from voters. By using grounded research with a phenomenological approach, this study discovered that Santri would only engage in a certain action if they had obtained the approval or endorsement of the Kyai. As a result, a particular group of society cannot claim exclusive ownership over the growing popularity of religious symbols. It occurs since the distinction between conservative-ideological and moderate-cultural groups has eroded, resulting in the widespread interpretation of religious symbols in the context of politics.