No abstract

Islamic finance has been growing significantly across the globe. In Southeast Asia, interest in Islamic finance and its growth is significant in Malaysia. Compared with Malaysia, in Indonesia, however, the largest Muslim population country where an Islamic resurgence has been widely taking place, the growth of Islamic banks remains slower and on a smaller scale. Furthermore, recent research shows that Islamic piety does not systematically translate into the use of Islamic banks among middle-class Indonesians. Against these findings, this article highlights a relatively understudied Islamic finance institution, Islamic Savings and Credit Cooperatives, in Indonesia commonly known as Baitul Maal wat Tamwil (BMT). The BMT sector is separate from the banking sector and as such has received little scholarly attention as part of Islamic finance in Indonesia. The number of the BMTs in Indonesia has increased significantly since the 1990s and they are grass-roots Islamic financial institutions offering financial services to relatively small-scale traders in urban areas. Based on data from anthropological research in Central Java, this article argues that Islamic propagation is an important element among the BMT founders and workers. They perceive their economic activities as Islamic propagation by deeds (dakwah bil hal) to achieve social justice.

Civil society organisations, including those that are faith-based, are increasingly viewed as key stakeholders that can influence government policies, advocate on behalf of poor people and contribute to service delivery and development. This paper discusses interactions between religious groups and the state and how they influence society in the ethnically diverse Asia-Pacific region. Through case studies of Indonesia, Fiji, and Samoa, the paper discusses various aspects of the political relationships between religious groups and states, the roles of religion in society and the engagement of religious groups in welfare and development. It concludes that while religious organisations are socially and politically influential in all the countries considered, certain aspects of their relationships with governments pose challenges for the achievement of stability, equality, and development.Donateurs et gouvernance : le potentiel du développement basé sur la foi dans la région AsiePacifique Les organisations de la société civile, y compris celles qui ont une base religieuse, sont de plus en plus considérées comme des parties prenantes clés qui peuvent influer sur les politiques gouvernementales, mener un travail de plaidoyer au nom des pauvres et contribuer à la prestation de services et au développement. Cet article traite des interactions entre les groupes religieux et l'É tat et de la manière dont ils influent sur la société dans la région d'Asie-Pacifique, où la diversité ethnique est très importante. À l'aide d'études de cas d'Indonésie, de Fidji et de Samoa, cet article traite de divers aspects des rapports politiques entre groupes religieux et É tats, des rôles de la religion dans la société et de la présence des groupes religieux dans le bien-être social et le développement. Il conclut que, bien que les organisations religieuses soient influentes sur les plans social et politique dans tous les pays étudiés, certains aspects de leurs rapports avec les gouvernements soulèvent des problèmes quant à l'obtention de la stabilité, de l'égalité et du développement. Doadores e governança: o potencial do desenvolvimento baseado na fé no Pacífico AsiáticoAs organizações da sociedade civil, incluindo aquelas que são baseadas na fé, estão sendo cada vez mais vistas como stakeholders cruciais que podem influenciar políticas governamentais, advogar em nome das pessoas pobres e contribuir para a implementação de serviços e desenvolvimento. Este artigo discute as interações entre grupos religiosos e o estado e como eles influenciam a sociedade na região etnicamente diversificada do Pacífico Asiático. Através de estudos de caso da Indonésia, Fiji e Samoa, o artigo discute vários aspectos da relação política entre grupos religiosos e estados, o papel da religião na sociedade e o engajamento de grupos religiosos no bem-estar e desenvolvimento. O artigo conclui que, embora as organizações religiosas sejam socialmente e politicamente influentes em todos os países considerados, certos aspectos de suas relações com os governos impõem ...

Contrary to the secularisation processes in modernisation theory, religions and faith‐based organisations (FBOs) are thriving in contemporary Indonesia. Strongly supported by community members, religious organisations have begun to extend their services beyond the traditional areas of education and health to operate in disaster relief and poverty alleviation programmes. These FBOs have been offering assistance to the disadvantaged whose needs have not been adequately met by the state. Social programmes run by the FBOs are an important safety net at the grass‐roots level in Indonesia; how to effectively coordinate and offer such services are important social policy issues. This paper will show that the Indonesian Government is keen to remain the key provider of social services and often perceives the services of FBOs as a threat. Some recent state policies to regulate the funding sources of Islamic organisations have posed a significant logistical challenge for their future operation. In addition, theological differences across various religious groups have made it difficult to form inclusive and extensive partnerships among the FBOs, who tend to compete with each another resulting in rivalry. These socio‐political contexts have limited the formation of effective partnerships for offering coordinated social services.