THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF KNOWLEDGE: SHARIA AND SAUDI SCHOLARSHIP IN INDONESIA

This item is published by Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya

Jahroni, Jajang (2012) THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF KNOWLEDGE: SHARIA AND SAUDI SCHOLARSHIP IN INDONESIA. In: Conference Proceedings: Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies (AICIS) XII, 5 – 8 November 2012, Surabaya – Indonesia.

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Abstract

Until recently only a few studies have been proposed to account the relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Most of them are dealing with premodern era (Azra 2004, Basri 2008, Laffar 2003, Mas’ud 1997). While this lack of initiatives in some parts can be attributed to the uthoritarian nature of the Saudi regime, most of the studies have entertained the idea that the relations are static and that most of the Saudi education projects are largely directed to support state ideology (Al Rasheed 2007, Okruhlik 2004). This assumption does not have strong evidence. Many things have changed over the last decades. Throughout this article I argue that, on the one hand, it is becoming more obvious that these relations have been characterized by patron-client relations. On the other hand, it involves a wide range of actors thereby allowing the diversity of knowledge reproduction. This article deals with LIPIA, a Saudi education project and its network with Indonesian graduates. These returning graduates are currently serving in various positions such as teachers and preachers. In the course of time they have maintained relations with Saudi, from which they obtain financial supports. It focuses on students who studied in Saudi in recent periods precisely in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Their understandings of Sharia have changed over the time depending its contexts. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country. It has played an important role in shaping the politics of regional and global Muslim world. This fact attracts Saudi Arabia, which has attempted to become the dominant player in Muslim politics. Over the last three decades, it has made a big investment on the field of education by building Islamic schools and institutes, distributing scholarship for Indonesian students, and channeling aid for Muslim organizations. It is becoming obvious that Saudi uses education as a political strategy to maintain its influences over Indonesia.