The Appeal of Islamist Movements in Local Muslim Contexts

This paper explores the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) in Pamekasan, Madura, analyzing its appeal and organizational dynamics within the local Muslim community. The research aims to uncover the motivations for FPI membership and the strategies FPI uses to strength­en solidarity among its members. The study employs religious capital and social identity theories, drawing on the works of Iannaccone and Klick, Maselko, Hughes, and Cheney, Stark and Finke, and Bourdieu’s cultural capital. Findings indicate that FPI’s appeal is rooted in its alignment with traditional Muslim values, its commitment to ‘enjoining good and prohib­iting evil,’ the significant role of kyai and habib in legitimizing its activities, and its collaboration with local religious organizations. Key events, in­cluding religious studies, public ṣalawāt councils, and large-scale tablīghs, strengthen internal cohesion and extend its influence. The paper argues that FPI’s success in Pamekasan is due to its effective use of religious and social capital, fostering strong religious identity and community solidarity, which are crucial for its organizational effectiveness and legitimacy

Appeal · Archaeology · Geography · Islam · Muslim community · Political science · Sociology · Islamic Finance and Communication · Islamic Studies and Radicalism · Law · Legal Studies and Policies