CIVIL SOCIETY AND ISLAM:

INDONESIAN EXPERIENCE OF MASYARAKAT MADANI

Mohammad Fazril Bin Mohd Saleh
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

INTRODUCTION
A society is a basic unit of human civilization and culture, where these two play a
vital role. From time immemorial human beings are tied in social relationship to one
another.[1] Nowadays social status has taken on a new dimension according to the
needs and requirement of the society. The primitive cultures and civilizations are very
simple, therefore their society was also simple and now, society becomes more and
more complex, apparently its complexity is at its zenith.
Although we live in civilized world today with electronic wave system, satellite
communications and wonderful devices which are supplying amazing comfort in the
terrestrial life, but still we are not in peace. As criticized by Sirajul Islam: ever imminent
war, scarcity of morality, degradation of values, slackening of human rights and so on
are peeping in at our doors every moment.[2]Therefore, we feel the need of civil
society, so that our good life, civilization and culture may be preserved.
Actually, the intention of this paper is to discuss briefly about the civil society, its
concept, and Islamic evaluation on it. This paper will firstly look upon the concept of civil
society which will be defined in the light of philosophers, thinkers, and political
scientists. Also, there will be a case study of civil society in Indonesia particularly on the
period of post-new order era. Meanwhile, the Islamic evaluation on the concept of civil
society will be the last sub-topic of this term-paper.

THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY

The answer to the question, what is good life? would lead to the concept of
civil society.[3] But, according to Asha Mukherjee, answering this question satisfactorily
needs that we first agrees as to what should be counted as good life. He said, We find
that good life has an inbuilt two dimensions, the individualistic as well as
social.[4] Meanwhile, looking on the term civil society in the modern perspective,
Moten and Islam mentioned that the term is a peculiarly modern concept which was
neglected for most of the 20th century in the West (particularly in the Western Europe),
though it was commonly used in Marxist terminology and some of its derivatives and the
term became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[5]
In contemporary academic exploration, civil society as defined by Cohen and
Arato, is usually defined to refer to the level of governance between the state and the
governed.[6] It includes, but is not limited to, non-government organizations involved in

service delivery and advocacy activities, charitable organizations, private foundations,

professional associations, social movements and activist networks. As insisted by Helen
James, the key common denominator with all these groups is that they be not for profit,
and seek to achieve their objectives through non-violent methods.[7]
Meanwhile for Philip Oxhorn, the civil society expert who focuses his analysis
and studies of civil society in Latin America said: Given the concepts close association
with Western history and political thought, its applicability to other regions such as Latin
America is often hotly debated.[8] Therefore, he defined civil society as the social
fabric formed by a multiplicity of self-constituted territorially and functionally-based units
which peacefully coexist and collectively resist subordination to the state, at the same
time that they demand inclusion into national political structure.[9]
Even though the concept of civil society has largely flourished from the
18 century (in the time of early modern thought of the Enlightenment) and onward, but
it is not a new concept. Sirajul Islam proved that the concept of civil society had been
expounded in ancient Greece. Platos Republic offers vivid instances of civil society
and justice.[10] Even, Socrates also advised each citizen to maintain civil laws and
principles of the society, because, as a good citizen of a particular state, it is his moral
obligation to obey the law of his state. However, their civil society was basically confined
to the political theory.[11] In The Republic, Plato maintained that government, whether
it is ruled by the king or the military, the people or the tyrant, should treat society in a
reasonable way, as an image of the individual and people will be the sole composer of
that regime.[12]
th

Meanwhile, the social concept theory developed by Thomas Hobbes is basically

signifies the associations of the people which is the necessary part of the civil society. In
his book Leviathan, he said: human beings in the state of nature are determined by
the necessity of the mechanics of their bodies to pursue their own good, even at the
expense of others and cannot be blamed for pursuing that to which nature impels
them.[13] According to him, human beings come together because they need each
other to be complete, also for the social conditions necessary to bring out happiness
and fulfillment.[14]
Afterward, Hegel, Toqueville, Marx, and Gramsci, all spoke about civil society in
the political or economical sense.[15] Hegelgave rise to a modern liberal understanding
of the concept of civil society as a form of market society as opposed to institutions of
modern nation state.[16] He considered civil society as a separate realm, a "system of
needs", that stood for the satisfaction of individual interests and private property. Hence,
he used the German term "burgerliche Gesellschaft" to denote civil society as "civilian
society". Then, Alexis de Tocqueville put weight on the system of civilian and political
associations as a counterbalance to both liberal individualism and centralization of the
state. Hence, Hegel's perception of social reality was followed in general by Tocqueville
who distinguished between political society and civil society.[17]

Meanwhile, for Karl Marx, civil society was the base where productive forces
and social relations were taking place, whereas political society was the
'superstructure'.[18] Agreeing with the link between capitalism and civil society, Marx
held that the latter represents the interests of the bourgeoisie. Therefore, the state as
superstructure also represents the interests of the dominant class; under capitalism, it
maintains the domination of the bourgeoisie.[19] Hence, Marx rejected the positive role
of state put forth by Hegel. Marx argued that the state cannot be a neutral problem
solver. Rather, he depicted the state as the defender of the interests of the bourgeoisie.
He considered the state and civil society as the executive arms of the bourgeoisie;
therefore, both should wither away.[20]
On the other hand, the negative view about civil society raised by Marx was
rectified by Antonio Gramsci.[21] He underlined the crucial role of civil society as the
contributor of the cultural and ideological capital required for the survival of the
hegemony of capitalism. Rather than posing it as a problem, as in earlier Marxist
conceptions, Gramsci viewed civil society (societa civile) as the site for problem-solving.
[22]
For the London School of Economics Centre for Civil Society, civil society is a
concept located strategically at the cross-section of important strands of intellectual
developments in the social sciences. To take account of the diversity of the concept,
they adopted an initial working definition that is meant to guide research activities and
teaching, but is by no means to be interpreted as a rigid statement: Civil society refers
to the arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes
and values. In theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of
the state, family and market, though in practice, the boundaries between state, civil
society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society
commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying in
their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by
organizations such as registered charities, development non-governmental
organizations, community groups, women's organizations, faith-based organizations,
professional associations, trades unions, self-help groups, social movements, business
associations, coalitions and advocacy group.[23]
Examples
of
civil
society
institutions
are:
(1) non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), (2) private voluntary organizations (PVOs), (3) peoples
organizations, (4) community-based organizations, (4) civic clubs, (5) trade unions, (6)
gender, cultural, and religious groups, (7) charities, (8) social and sports clubs,
(9) cooperatives,
(10) environmental groups,
(11)
professional
associations,
(12) academia, (13) policy institutions, (14) consumers/consumer organizations, (15)
the media, (16) citizens' militia, and (17) organized religion. Moten and Islam argued
that civil society is not the exclusive domain of one country or continent, or of a

particular type of political system. Almost all societies have within them civil formations
regardless of the system of government.[24]
According to Larry Diamond, the organizations of civil society are voluntary, selfgenerating, autonomous, and rule abiding. They are concerned with the public ends;
they relate to the state without seeking office; they encompass pluralism; and they are
partial.[25] Moten and Islam had elaborated beautifully those characteristics of civil
society given by Larry Diamond. They explained six characteristics of civil society,
summarized as follow: (1) Voluntary and autonomous, (2) public ends, (3) pluralism and
diversity, (4) partial and non-holistic, (5) link with the state, and (6) civility.[26]

CIVIL SOCIETY IN INDONESIA: A CASE STUDY

1.

Profile of Indonesia
Indonesia is a democratic country that applies a presidential system
and Pancasila (Five Pillars) is the soul of the Indonesian democracy. Indonesia adopts a
democracy
that
is
based
on
the
5
principles
known
as
the Pancasila Democracy. Pancasila were proclaimed by President Soekarno (the first
President of Indonesia) on the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of
Indonesia on 17 August 1945. Pancasila consists of five principles that are interrelated
and inseparable: (1) The belief in one God, (2) A just and civilized humanism, (3) Unity
of Indonesia, (4) Democratic citizenship lead by wise guidance born of representative
consultation, (5) Social just for all the people of Indonesia.[27]
Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest archipelagos in the
world that has 17,508 islands, situated between two continents, Asia and
Australia/Oceania. This strategic position greatly influences the countrys culture, social,
politics and economy.[28] With a population of around 230 million people, it is the
world's fourth most populous country, and has the world's largestpopulation of Muslims.
Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The capital city
is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor,
and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia,
and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[29]
The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the
seventh century, when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with China and India.
Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign cultural, religious and political models from the
early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history
has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders
brought Islam, and European powers fought one another to monopolize trade in the
Spice Islands ofMaluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half
centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independenceafter World War II.
[30]

The population of Indonesia can be divided into two major groups: in the western
region most of the people are from the Malay ethnicity while in the eastern region there
are the Papuans originating from the Melanesian Islands. Indonesia also recognizes
specific ethnic groups that come from a certain province/area and have specific
language for example the Javanese from Central or East Java, the Sundanese from
West Java or the Batak ethnicity from North Sumatra. In addition, there are also minority
ethnicities derived from Chinese, Indian and Arabic descendents. These people
travelled as merchants through trade exchange since the 8 th century BC and migrated to
Indonesia.
As in other democratic countries, Indonesia applies the three organs of
government that recognizes the separation of the legislative, executive and judicial
bodies. The legislative authority is under the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR
- Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat) that consists of two bodies namely the Parliament
which consist of members of political parties and the Regional Representative Council
(DPD - Dewan Perwakilan Daerah) composing of representatives from each province in
Indonesia. Each province is represented by 4 delegates that are elected by the people
in the respective region.[31] The Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) is the highest
state institution. Formerly the MPR consisted of the parliament members and group
representatives. Currently, the MPR has 550 members from the parliament and 128
members from the DPD. The parliament members and the DPD members are elected
every five years. Since 2004, the MPR has become a bicameral parliament with the
DPD as second chamber.[32]
The executive institution is centralized under the president, vice president, and
the cabinet of ministers. The cabinet is a presidential cabinet in which the ministers
report to the president and do not represent the political parties. The judicial institution
-since the reform era and upon the amendment of the 1945 Constitution- is
administered by the Supreme Court including the administration of the judges.[33] The
current nation of Indonesia is a unitary presidential republic consisting of thirty three
provinces.[34]
Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast
areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The
country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty remains widespread in
contemporary Indonesia.[35] Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with
challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization
process, and periods of rapid economic change.

2.

Concept of Civil Society in Indonesia

Since the discourse of the civil society concept in Indonesia became popular in
the beginning of 1990s, there are two approaches or concepts which have been

developed there.[36] The first one, according to Sujatmiko, is highly related to politics as
it focuses on civil societys vertical aspect, mainly focused on societys autonomy from
the state.[37] This concept is mainly supported by NGOs opposing the government. As
the means to achieve democratization, these NGOs looked at the civil society as a
striving arena in order to develop a strong and independent society. Therefore,
according to Rustam Ibrahim, the first approach defines civil society as a concept of
independent societys presence and at some level is able to advance and to limit
governments intervention into the created avenues for its activities. The NGOs raised
the civil society discourse in Indonesia in order to identify and build citizens capacity for
advocating democracy and human rights in the face of the New Order (Order Baru)
opposition.[38]
The second conceptualization highlights the horizontal aspect of culture like
relations between individuals and groups.[39] It stresses civility aspects of civil society
and because it is identical with the concept of civilized society in Indonesia known
asmasyarakat madani.[40] The term masyarakat madani was introduced by Nurcholish
Madjid, a famous progressive Indonesian Muslim thinker. He stated that masyarakat
madani is a civilized society (in Arabic, madaniyyah), derived from the concept of civil
society in Prophet Mohammads time with Medina as the centre of activities. According
to Nurcholis Madjid, masyarakat madani is the kind of society that respects and
perpetuates the principles of pluralism and tolerance which the pluralism here means
that there is sincere willingness to accept the fact of diversity and pluralism in a positive
manner. Thus, by this, it will enrich the development and diversity of the nations culture
through dynamic and various cross-cultural interactions. [41] Similarly, tolerance
relates to the willingness to accept differences on various perspectives and social
behaviours.[42]
The followers of the masyarakat madani concept adopt a very soft approach in
the relations between civil society and the state. Even though civil society is
acknowledged as the main component of pro-democracy movement, the government is
still perceived to be the crucial factor for democratization and the structure of
democracy cannot be built without the states power.[43] In fact, the interconnection
between the government and the civil society is often defined in a cooperative
framework rather than based on conflict. This happens because the demise of the
governments legitimacy will lead to potential fragmentation within the civil society.
The civil society has no meaning without a strong state.[44]
Following the end of Soehartos authoritarian regime and a few years into reform
era (masa reformasi), the development showed that there is consensus among the civil
society components. It means, there is a concept of civil society which consists of the
combination of both the vertical and horizontal aspects. The society is not merely
considered as the arena or space that filled with voluntary, organized and governmentindependent society groups, but they are also characterized by their tolerance, respect
towards each other and the pluralism within them.[45]

This concept is very significant and relevant with the social condition of
Indonesia, as a vast state, which consists of various ethnicities and religions. Therefore,
the conditions require a serious attention from the government, especially the issue of
reintegration. As stated by Rustam Ibrahim: the political reform in Indonesia, however,
despite the fact that it has transformed Indonesia into democracy, also caused a
number of horizontal conflicts and violence in several regions. These civil society
organizations (CSO), which consist of organized groups and networks situated outside
the family, state and market, interact with each other to promote common interests,
including the public interest in broader sense. As a collective entity covering all
organizations, groups, and organized networking outside the family, the civil society
organization (CSO) category is very diverse.[46]

3.

Civil Society in Indonesia

As mentioned before, the concept of civil society began to gain its popularity in
Indonesia at the beginning of the 1990s. However, the beginnings of civil society
activity, marked by the establishment of organized and relatively independent
community groups, can be traced back to the time of Dutch colonialism in the beginning
of the 20th century. According to Azyumardi Azra, Indonesian civil society has a long
and rich history, particularly the religious-based civil society. The earliest forms of
nationwide civil society organizations in the country were Muslim social-religious
organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama` or NU, founded in 1912 by K.H. Hasyim
Azhari, and Muhammadiyah, established by K.H. Achmad Dahlan in 1926.[47] Both
organizations conceived in the colonialism era and are still greatly influential today. In
connection with Dutch policies on political liberalization and modernization of its
colonies, hundreds of community-based organizations for education, social issues,
religion, economics and even politics blossomed in Indonesia with various goals but all
in pursuit of the common goal of gaining independence from the Dutch. This
development continued into the early stage of independence in early 1950s when
several mass organisations of professionals such as labourers, youths, students,
journalists, artists and others tried to affiliate themselves with political parties.[48]
The reign of the Suharto era, which enjoyed the backing of military forces for
more than 32 years (1966-1998), resulted in a setback for Indonesias civil society
development. The Suhartos presidency, known as the New Order era, according to
Rustam Ibrahim, was in fact a bureaucratic-authoritarian regime (Negara Otoriter
Birokrasi/ NOB). He argued: NOB was intended as a political system in which the state
comes out as the dominant political force that is capable not only of controlling its own
supporting factions but is also capable of marginalizing its opposition within the society.
NOB was designed to exert strict control over civil society, as in an authoritarian country
the life of civil society will always be controlled in order to prevent people from being
actively involved in the political realm. The involvement of people in politics is
considered a nuisance to the political stability and an obstacle to the national economic

growth. Several mechanisms were used to control the society, such as obstruction and
prohibition of civil liberties (freedom of association and freedom of expression) and the
development of a corporate state ideology.[49]
This ideology of corporate state primarily correlates with organizations life where
state governs civil societys organization through interest representative system initiated
and acknowledged by the state. The representatives unit is functionally divided based
on specific categories such as one labour union, one journalists association, one youth
organization and so on. These units must have the governments approval and submit
themselves to the governments control.[50] Those organizations appeared during the
economic modernization period of President Suhartos regime and known as Lembaga
Pengembangan Swadaya Masyarakat (LPSM) or Societys Self-Development Group.
[51] Alternative organizations for these units were prohibited. The government created
difficulties to these alternative organisations and, where necessary dissolved the
organizations by coercive measures.[52]
In the middle of 1997, Indonesia suffered a serious economic and monetary crisis
that led to a massive increase in the number of poor and unemployed, especially in
urban areas. This situation prompted massive demonstrations by Indonesian students in
Jakarta and other major cities, which had the support of NGOs and academics, and
culminated in the fall of President Soeharto in May 1998. The fall of this authoritarian
regime was followed by democratic transition in Indonesia. This event initiated a great
deal of transformation within the Indonesias society, especially the rapid development
of the civil society. CSOs have shown a significant increase in numbers. This period is
known as the reform era and also known as the resurrection of the Indonesian civil
society.
With the freedom to associate, assemble and express opinions for the people,
the civil society sector has grown at a very rapid pace. The CSOs, whether new or old,
compete with one another to be heard by the people. A team of researchers on
Indonesian civil society from YAPPIKA described some illustrations of CSO growth as
below:[53]

1.

The number of NGOs, which are the most visible and vocal components of CSO, has
increased greatly. In the new order era, there were only several thousand NGOs in
Indonesia. This number has multiplied in the recent period.

2.

In the new order era, there was only one labour union acknowledged, and it was
highly controlled by the government. Nowadays there are 40 labour unions at the
national level, not less than 300 labour organizations at the local level and more than
10,000 labour unions at the company level.

3. New Independent mass communication media such as newspaper, magazines and

tabloid have growing very rapidly. There are hundreds of newly established
newspapers, magazines, and tabloids, which span from capital cities like Jakarta to the
cities in the provinces and deliver independent news.
4.

Social religious organizations, intellectuals and scholars communities, student

movements, research institutions, study groups and think tanks have also experienced
significant development.
To YAPPIKA National Index Team, even though the civil society has grown very
rapidly, it is clear that living in a repressive regime leaves a considerable impact and
long lasting impression on the various elements of civil society. For more than three
decades, the civil society was treated as part of problem and not the solution. The civil
societys sole purpose of existence is to be controlled and not to be heard or treated as
partners. As a result, in 1998 when it aspired to contribute to democracy and good
governance, CSO needed to reconsider its strategy and reposition itself in order to
respond to the ever-changing challenges and opportunities.[54]

THE WORLDVIEW OF ISLAM: AN ISLAMIC EVALUATION

Nowadays, the term civil society became too popular. It is found anywhere, yet
what it means, according to Wayne Hudson, is often unclear.[55] As the term civil
society first emerged in Europe, yet there is no single European concept of it. Wayne
Hudson criticized the definition of civil society particularly in Western literature which
was shaped by Enlightenment conception of religion and the secular and assumes
that in the long run, religion will decline, or at least play less and less role in public
affairs. He said: Today, however, European conception of religion and the secular are
contested, and there is empirical evidence that religion is not declining or absenting
itself from public affairs. Moreover, fundamentalist religion, both Islamic and Christian, is
a major problem, both internationally and within some nation states. In this context, it
may be useful to explore civil society in terms which are neither secularist nor
confessional.[56]
Therefore, the term civil society is historicized and allowance is made for
different civil societies in different part of the world and it cannot be assumed to be
necessarily secular.[57] Similar to what have been mentioned by Philip Oxhorn: Given
the concepts close association with Western history and political thought, its
applicability to other regions such as Latin America is often hotly debated,[58] the
concept of civil society in Islam must be understood within Islamic framework which is
based on the worldview of Islam which is derived from divine revelation (The Qur`an
and Prophets tradition).

The worldview of Islam is the creed (aqidah) of Islam itself[59]. It projects the
vision of the one reality and truth. It encompasses both dunya and is a fixed
unchanging, final and absolute vision because it is grounded in and derived from wahy.
[60]This is not merely a theoretical claim, for Muslim historical experience has shown
that the fundamental element of the worldview such as the conception of God, of the
nature of man and of the psychology of the human soul, and the meaning of knowledge,
of happiness, of virtue and vices, and of prophethood have no change throughout the
long ages of Islamic epoch.[61]
It is not a derivation of cultural and philosophical elements but it is one whose
source is wahy, confirmed by religion, affirmed by intellectual and intuitive principles.
[62] This wahy is final, and it not only confirms the truth of preceding revelations in their
original forms, but includes their substance, separating the truth from cultural creation
and ethnic inventions.[63] Therefore, the worldview of Islam consist of[64]: (1) belief in
the oneness of Allah; (2) belief that Allah is the creator of this universe; (3) belief that
Allah is the sustainer of the world; (4) belief in the unseen realities and the life to come;
(5) recognition of the Holy Prophet Muhammad as the Messenger of Allah, and (6) belief
in the angels of Allah and the authority that defines the truth as separate from
falsehood.[65] For Muslims, Islam represents a way of life guided by proper knowledge
and ethical principles outlined in The Holy Qur`an and exemplified in the practical life of
The Holy Prophet[66]
In such a society, human beings, due to the very attribute of being human, are
revered and their rights are respected. [67] The government in such a society is the
result of peoples choice and is accountable to the people. Citizens of Islamic civil
society enjoy the right to determine their own destiny, supervise the administration of
affairs and hold the government accountable. Also, civil society in Islam acknowledged
the toleration of faith, conscience, freedom, morality, solidarity and subsidiary.
[68] Therefore, according to Sirajul Islam, it is very interesting to indicate that the first
civil community was formed by Prophet Muhammad SAW which was calledal-Mujtama
al-Madani (civil socity/state). This statement by Sirajul Islam has been supported by alAttas. He claimed the concept of religion (din) is connected with the concept of civil
society (al-Mujtama al-Madani) and proved it by established upon a firm system of roots
and its semantic structure which is governed by a clearly defined system of semantic
field that determine the conceptual structures inherent in its vocabulary and is also fix
permanently by its root system.[69]
Al-Attas claimed that the word din (religion) and madain or mudun (city) are
semantically connected as the idea of kingdom (madinah) inherent in the concept
of din. He said: the very notion of law and order and justice and authority and social
cultural refinement inherent in all these signification derived from the concept din must
surely presuppose the existence of a mode or manner of acting consistent with what is
reflected in the law, the order, the justice, the authority and social cultural refinement, a
mode or manner of acting, or a state of being considered as normal in relation to

them.[70] Thus, it is not a problem to say that the concept of civil society is existed in
Islamic tradition. Hence, some scholars claiming that civil society is precisely Islamic
original ideal form of society.[71]
CONCLUSION
From this brief survey, the establishment of civil society is a need, so that our
good life, civilization and culture may be preserved. The concept of civil society, even
though was emerged in the West, but it is not a rigid concept. It can be defined and
applied by different civil societies in different part of the world including Islamic society.
Meanwhile, the case study of Indonesian civil society has proven the claim
aforesaid. As today in Indonesia, CSO is aspired to contribute to democracy and good
governance, thus, it is significant for them to reconsider its strategy and reposition itself
in order to respond to the ever-changing challenges and opportunities. As in Islam, civil
society is accepted and is legitimate within Islam as long as they are not contrary to
Islam. The term al-Mujtama al-Madani reflexes the characteristics of civil society in
Islam.

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[1] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, Civil Society as
Democratic Practice, edi. by Antonio F. Perez, Semou Pathe Gueye & Fenggang Yang, (USA: The Council for
Research in Values and Philosophy, 2005), pg. 223, hereinafter cited as Civil Society, Solidarity and Social
Reformation in The Sufi Perspective
[2] Ibid.
[3] Asha Mukherjee, Civil Society: A Transpositional Understanding, Civil Society as Democratic Practice, edi. by
Antonio F. Perez, Semou Pathe Gueye & Fenggang Yang, (USA: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy,
2005), pg. 257, hereinafter cited as Civil Society: A Transpositional Understanding
[4] Ibid.
[5] Moten and Islam, Introduction to Political Science 3rd Edition, (Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia, 2009), pg. 369,
hereinafter cited asIntroduction to Political Science 3rd Edition
[6] Cohen and Arato, Civil Society and Political Theory (London: MIT Press, 1992)
[7] Helen James, Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: The Power and Persuasiveness of Civil
Society, Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power and Persuasion, ed. by Helen James

(London & NY: Routledge, 2007), pg. 3, hereinafter cited as Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: The
Power and Persuasiveness of Civil Society
[8] Philip Oxhorn, Citizenship as Consumption or Citizenship as Agency? : The Challenge for Civil society in Latin
America Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power and Persuasion, ed. by Helen James
(London & NY: Routledge, 2007), pg. 101, hereinafter cited as Citizenship as Consumption or Citizenship as
Agency? : The Challenge for Civil society in Latin America
[9] Ibid.
[10] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, Civil Society as
Democratic Practice, pg. 224
[11] David Miller, The Blackwell encyclopedia of Political Thought, (London: Blackwell, 1994), pg. 77
[12] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, Civil Society as
Democratic Practice, pg. 225
[13] Michael Goldman (ed.), Journal of Teaching Philosophy (USA: Miami University, 1997), ed. 20:2, June, pg. 122
[14] Ibid.
[15] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, Civil Society as
Democratic Practice, pg. 225
[16] Zaleski, Pawel, "Tocqueville on Civilian Society. A Romantic Vision of the Dichotomic Structure of Social
Reality", Archiv fur Begriffsgeschichte (Germany: Felix Meiner Verlag, 2008), pg. 50
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/civil_society
[20] Ibid.
[21] Eugeniusz Gorski, Civil Society, Pluralism and Universalism, (Washington DC: The Council for Research in
Values and Philosophy, 2007), pg. 15
[22] Ibid. pg. 7-10
[23] See "What is civil society?", Centre for Civil Society, London School of Economics. 2004-03-01. Retrieved 200610-30.
[24] Moten and Islam, Introduction to Political Science 3rd Edition, (Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia, 2009), pg.
371

[25] Ibid. pg. 371

[26] Ibid. pg. 371-373
[27] See http://www.indonesia.go.id/en/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=112
[28] Ibid.
[29] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia
[30] Ibid.
[31] See http://www.indonesia.go.id/en/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=112

[32] Ibid.
[33] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia
[34] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia
[35] http://www.economist.com/node/7925064?story_id=7925064
[36] Rustam Ibrahim, Indonesia Civil Society 2006: A Long Journey To a Civil Society, (Jakarta, YAPPIKA &
ACCESS, 2006), pg. 20
[37] Ibid.

[38] Ibid. pg. 21

[39] Ibid.
[40] Ibid.

[41] Nurcholish Madjid, Introduction to Civil Society and Democratic Investment: Challenges and
Opportunities, Civil Society versus Civilised Society: Archeology of the Notion of Civil Society in Islam
Indonesia, ed. by Ahmad Baso, (Bandung: Pustaka Hidayah, 1999)
[42] Ibid.

[43] Rustam Ibrahim, Indonesia Civil Society 2006: A Long Journey To a Civil Society, (Jakarta, YAPPIKA &
ACCESS, 2006), pg. 21
[44] Ibid.

[45] Ibid.
[46] Ibid.
[47] Azyumardi Azra, Religious-based Civil Society and Anti-Corruption Campaign: The Indonesian experience in
The Creation of Good Governance, Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power and
Persuasion, ed. by Helen James (London & NY: Routledge, 2007), pg. 20, hereinafter cited as Religious-based Civil
Society and Anti-Corruption Campaign: The Indonesian experience in The Creation of Good Governance
[48] Rustam Ibrahim, Indonesia Civil Society 2006: A Long Journey To a Civil Society, (Jakarta, YAPPIKA &
ACCESS, 2006), pg. 18
[49] Ibid.

[50] Ibid.
[51] Azyumardi Azra, Religious-based Civil Society and Anti-Corruption Campaign: The Indonesian experience in
The Creation of Good Governance, Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power and
Persuasion, pg. 289
[52] Rustam Ibrahim, Indonesia Civil Society 2006: A Long Journey To a Civil Society, (Jakarta, YAPPIKA &
ACCESS, 2006), pg. 19
[53] Ibid. pg. 20

[54] Ibid.
[55] Wayne Hudson, Postsecular Civil Society, Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power
and Persuasion, ed. by Helen James (London & NY: Routledge, 2007), pg. 149, hereinafter cited as Postsecular
Civil Society
[56] Ibid. pg. 150

[57] Ibid.
[58] Philip Oxhorn, Citizenship as Consumption or Citizenship as Agency? : The Challenge for Civil society in Latin
America Civil Society, Religion and Global Governance: Paradigms of Power and Persuasion, ed. by Helen James
(London & NY: Routledge, 2007), pg. 101, hereinafter cited as Citizenship as Consumption or Citizenship as
Agency? : The Challenge for Civil society in Latin America
[59] Omar Jah, Al-Balagh, Knowledge, Language, Thought & The Civilization of Islam, edi. by Wan Mohd Nor Wan
Daud and Muhd Zainy Uthman (Johor Bharu: UTM Press, 2010), pg. 83, hereinafter cited as Al-Balagh
[60] Adi Setia Mohd Dom, Worldview of Islam Academy: The Concept, (Kuala Lumpur: HAKIM, 2010), pg. 7
[61] Ibid.
[62] Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, Prolegomena to The Metaphysics of Islam: An Exposition of The
Fundamental Elements of The Worldview of Islam, (Kuala Lumpur: ISTAC, 1995), pg. 4, hereinafter cited
as Prolegomena
[63] Ibid. pg. 6
[64] Omar Jah, Al-Balagh, pg. 85
[65] Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, Prolegomena, pg. 78
[66] Israr Ahmad Khan, Qur`anic Studies: An Introduction, (Kuala Lumpur: Zaman Islam Media, 2000), pg.
Introduction
[67] Moten and Islam, Introduction to Political Science 3rd Edition, (Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia, 2009), pg.
376

[68] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, pg. 230
[69] Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, The Concept of Education in Islam, pg. 2
[70] Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, Prolegomena, pg. 44

[71] Sirajul Islam, Civil Society, Solidarity and Social Reformation in The Sufi Perspective, pg. 231