The Commodification of Religious Rituals: Representations of Political Actors in Indonesian Elections

The Commodification of Religious Rituals: Representations of Political Actors in Indonesian Elections

2024 | Faizal Hamzah Lubis, Faiz Albar Nasution, Rahma Hayati Harahap
This study examines the commodification of religious rituals in Indonesian politics, particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential election. The research uses a qualitative descriptive method to analyze the use of religious symbols and the forms of commodification by three Indonesian politicians running for president. Data was collected from 1,154 Instagram posts, with 265 indicating the practice of religious commodification. The analysis reveals that religious symbols are used to gain political support and establish leadership identity, leading to the polarization of society and the recruitment of politicians for electoral purposes. The politicians intertwine religious symbols and relationships with clerics, resulting in Islamic populist ideology and identity politics. The commodification of religion transforms spiritual values into political interests, using religion to appeal to voters and gain support. This phenomenon has significant implications for the democratic process in Indonesia, as it blurs the line between religious and political interests and can lead to the exploitation of religious beliefs for political gain. The study highlights the need to strengthen the integrity of religious beliefs and practices to prevent the sacred values of religion from being obscured by political interests.This study examines the commodification of religious rituals in Indonesian politics, particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential election. The research uses a qualitative descriptive method to analyze the use of religious symbols and the forms of commodification by three Indonesian politicians running for president. Data was collected from 1,154 Instagram posts, with 265 indicating the practice of religious commodification. The analysis reveals that religious symbols are used to gain political support and establish leadership identity, leading to the polarization of society and the recruitment of politicians for electoral purposes. The politicians intertwine religious symbols and relationships with clerics, resulting in Islamic populist ideology and identity politics. The commodification of religion transforms spiritual values into political interests, using religion to appeal to voters and gain support. This phenomenon has significant implications for the democratic process in Indonesia, as it blurs the line between religious and political interests and can lead to the exploitation of religious beliefs for political gain. The study highlights the need to strengthen the integrity of religious beliefs and practices to prevent the sacred values of religion from being obscured by political interests.
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