Research Activities

Research Projects 2026

Civil Islam on Trial: Survey Experiment on Religious Elite Cues and Democratic Norms in Indonesia

Outline

This study aims to clarify the role of religious elites in shaping political attitudes in Indonesia, where the quality of democracy is in decline. In recent years, presidents have strengthened their power by incorporating not only political parties and the military but also major Islamic mass organizations into patronage distribution structures. At the same time, presidential approval ratings remain remarkably high, yet the reasons behind this phenomenon remain unclear. Using a survey experiment, this study examines whether the supporters of Islamic mass organizations become more tolerant of executive aggrandizement when their religious elites align themselves with the government. Through this, the research seeks to reveal the mechanisms by which citizens come to accept democratic backsliding.

Period

April 2026 - March 2028

Members
Role Member
[ Organizer ] Mizuno, Yuji
[ Co-researcher ] Wahyu Prasetyawan(Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Associate Professor)

*Affiliations are as of April 2026.

Expected Outcome
  • Peer-Reviewed Journal