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Transforming <i>preman</i> to radical Islamic Laskar in Solo, Central Java


Yudi Setianto
Sanggar Kanto
Darsono Wisadirana
Anif Chawa Fatma
M. Chairul Basrun Umanailo

Abstract

The development of radical Islamic understanding amongst abangan society is a paradox because there is a dichotomy between santri and abangan. This  study aims to describe and analyse the transformation of preman or thugs into members of the radical Islamic army in Solo, Central Java. This  research reveals why Solo is the base of a radical Islamic Laskar, how premans are predisposed to become members of the Islamic Laskar, and the types  of radical Islam of this former preman. This type of research uses qualitative methods and a descriptive phenomenology approach with the social  construction theory from Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann. The results reveal that the rise of radical Islamic Laskar organisations is because of the  local conditions of the community life in Solo. They are the leaders of Islamic troops, as an essential role of agents is to lead the social construction of  preman to become members of the Laskar. Meanwhile, the type of Islamic radicalism of the preman was categorised as pseudoradicalism and fake  radicalism.


Contribution: This research contributes to the study of radicalism formed by religious organisations. This study describes and analyses in  depth the transformation of the preman into members of the radical Islamic army in the city of Solo and the base of the radical Islamic Laskar. The most  important finding of this article is the Islamic radicalism of the preman, which is categorised as pseudoradicalism and fake radicalism.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2072-8050
print ISSN: 0259-9422