The Role of Kiai in Electoral Participation in East Java

Abstract

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the role played by kiai (Islamic clerics) and pesantren (Islamic boarding school) networks in the political contestation of the 2024 East Java regional election (Pilkada). The study is grounded in the growing phenomenon of religious figures' involvement in electoral politics, particularly in East Java, a region with a strong base of traditional Muslim communities. The main objective of this research is to comprehensively examine the dynamics of religion-based political mobilization, the patterns of interaction between religious authority and state power, and how these relationships shape the local democratic landscape. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes in-depth interviews with a number of kiai and pesantren leaders from various regencies and municipalities in East Java. This is complemented by content analysis of campaign documents, media coverage, and official data from the East Java Electoral Commission (KPU Jatim). The findings reveal that kiai act as power brokers by offering public endorsements, influencing the voting behavior of santri (Islamic students), and forging strategic alliances with political parties affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Nevertheless, this active engagement also invites criticism regarding the emergence of patronage practices, the co-optation of religious institutions, and the commercialization of religious authority. In conclusion, the article argues that these phenomena reflect the inherent complexity and ambivalence of the religion-politics relationship in Indonesia, particularly in regions where kiai remain central figures in socio-political life.