Understanding Terrorism, Peace, and Tolerance from the Institute for the Study of Islam and Civilizations (INSISTS) Activists in Indonesia

Abstract

Although known as an anti-liberalism Islamic organization, the activists of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Civilizations (INSISTS) also have positions related to terrorism, peace, and tolerance. This paper seeks to explore the perspectives of INSISTS activists on these three issues, which are later discussed in Indonesian national discourse by Indonesian and foreign writers. INSISTS activists are deeply inspired by the thought of Syed Al-Attas, which holds that the problem of the Islamic world—even the world in general—is the “loss of adab.” The contestation of discourse deployed by INSISTS activists is inseparable from their worldview related to the Islam taught by Syed Al-Attas, and efforts to create an Islamic civilization with a moderate approach. INSISTS activists have advantages in the mastery of Islamic Arabic texts—because they are generally derived from Islamic educational institutions such as pesantren—and also others studies written by Western authors. Their study of Islamic and Western texts related to terrorism, peace and tolerance is very interesting to gain alternative thought in viewing the growing and dynamic and vibrant Islamic and wider Indonesian context. This paper seeks to find alternative perspectives related to these three issues, that are expected to be useful for the government in formulating policies in Indonesia. Keywords—terrorism, peace, tolerance, INSISTS