Politics, proselytization, and the glocalization of salafism in post-9/11 Indonesia and Nigeria

Abstract

Contrary to the simplistic view that portrays the dynamics of Salafism in Indonesia and Nigeria as solely influenced by Saudi Arabia, this thesis offers a novel perspective through a comparative study of these two important Muslimmajority countries outside of the Arab world. Although Saudi financial support played a significant role in the spread of Salafism, I contend that local actors are significantly influencing the dynamics of Salafism in Indonesia and Nigeria, and to a certain extent, even shaping how it took root and evolved. Thus, the concept of Glocalizing Salafism is introduced to emphasize the importance of considering both global influences and the local agency in understanding Salafism’s development and dynamics in Indonesia and Nigeria. To be precise, this concept highlights how local actors adapt Salafism discourse and practices to align with local cultural norms, political realities, and social needs, making Salafis a sort of ‘dynamic actors’, particularly in the wake of the events of 9/11 and the ongoing geopolitical changes in Saudi Arabia. In the same fashion, I also assess the impact of pivotal global events, mainly in the middle east in the 1979, such as the Grand Mosque seizure, known in many literature as the ‘Mecca Uprising’, and the Iranian revolution, which prompted the dissemination of Saudi Salafism, and by implication buttresses the Saudi Arabia’s strategic geopolitical manoeuvring to politically position itself as the central player in the Middle East, and to maintain its preeminent in the Muslim world. Grounded in qualitative interviews and fieldwork in Indonesia and Nigeria, this study explored the diverse trajectories of Salafism shaped by local cultures, geopolitical influences, and global events through a novel comparative approach. Still, future research could explore the evolving nature of Salafism in these regions, considering the ongoing geopolitical changes in Saudi Arabia under MBS.