Political Viability, Contestation and Power: Islam and Politics in Indonesia and Malaysia.

This paper explores the impact of Muslim organizations and Muslim political parties in Indonesia and Malaysia. Questions addressed are as follows: How does the political system (broadly described) facilitate or constrain the goals of various Muslim organizations (both groups in society and political parties)? What roles do these Muslim organizations play in impacting politics and where (or in what areas of) in the political process are they most effective? Under what circumstances have Muslim associations and/or parties been a force for (or antagonistic to) democratization? Given the ethnic and regional diversity in Malaysia and Indonesia, the initial hypotheses for these questions are as follows: under authoritarian and semi-authoritarian rule Muslim organizations actually have greater opportunities to polarize rhetoric as they appeal to citizens based on claims of moral legitimacy, fulfillment of social welfare needs, and some level of criticism of a restricted or corrupted political order. As a result, PAS, the lead Muslim party (and the dominant opposition party) has limited appeal to voters. Under more democratic conditions, Islamic groups or parties may need to moderate their appeals, and/or build coalitions with secular or non-Islamic groups in order to win power and influence in the larger political system. Muslim political parties exist in both Malaysia and Indonesia; their power and influence has varied over time. This project aims to explain why these parties have had more support at some times than others and under what conditions they may moderate their demands and policy choices to accommodate pluralist leanings. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]