William James’s Pragmatism and the Issue of Islamic Populism in Indonesia during the 2017 Gubernatorial Election and the 2019 General Election

Abstract

The phenomenon of Islamic populism has become a subject of intense debate, particularly as it emerged as a tangible political force during the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election and the 2019 Indonesian General Election. The populist groups involved in these events employed various strategies to achieve their political objectives, often by mobilizing mass support through identity politics, religious sentiment, and widespread use of misinformation. This study aims to examine the relationship between William James’s pragmatism and the rise of Islamic populist movements in Indonesia during these electoral moments. By employing a qualitative-descriptive approach, this paper analyzes the extent to which Islamic populist practices reflected pragmatic tendencies, especially the notion that truth is measured by its practical consequences. The findings reveal that Islamic populism in Indonesia during this period leaned heavily on pragmatic strategies that prioritized political gains over ethical or religious principles. Such practices demonstrate that the populist discourse was less about representing the people in a substantive sense and more about exploiting religious identity and mass mobilization for practical, short-term objectives. This analysis underscores the convergence of religious populism and pragmatic philosophy, highlighting its implications for the sustainability of democracy in Indonesia.

Keywords: Islamic populism, Indonesian politics, pragmatism, William James