Identity Politics, PPIM: Social Interaction Determining Political Orientation

Jakarta, PPIM – In determining political orientation, people were influenced a lot by how they practiced social interaction with others, said Sirojuddin Arif, a researcher for National Survey of Political Parties conducted by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, on Friday (11/12).

The results of the survey were presented by Sirojuddin in a virtual seminar organized by the PPIM UIN Jakarta through Convey Indonesia program. The seminar was part of the 16^th virtual talk show series of #ModerasiBeragama (Religious Moderation) themed “Political Identity Politics and Religious Moderation”.

Sirojuddin said that the more often people attended religious activities, the more reasons they had to vote for political candidates who shared the same religions with them. However, if they also joined various activities besides the religious ones, religious preferences would not strongly affect them in choosing candidates.

He went on to say that social interaction should be a neutral practice. He mentioned “social bonding” and “social bridging” as two types of social interaction that could influence people in determining their political preferences.

“Each type can be both positive and negative, but they give different impacts. Social bonding gives positive impacts in terms of solidarity within a community, but poses negative impacts to other communities. Social bridging, meanwhile, also has negative impacts, but it can strengthen relationships between groups,” Sirojuddin said.

As an example, he mentioned that identity politics could contribute positive meanings when it turned to be a liberation movement for marginalized minority groups, such as “black lives matter” campaign in the United States, which represented the voices of black people.

In recent days, however, identity politics in Indonesia had become a commodity of majority groups that used religious identity for their own interest.

The virtual seminar on Religious Moderation is held every Friday via “Convey Indonesia” official Youtube channel. The discussion, moderated by Convey Indonesian Team Leader Jamhari Makruf, also presented other speakers, including Indikator Politik Indonesia Executive Director Burhanuddin Muhtadi.

Writer : Humairah
Editor  : M. Nida Fadlan, Zhella Apriesta