Electoral support through Islamic female Majelis Taklim prayer groups : a study in Jambi (Indonesia) during the 2019 legislative and presidential elections

Abstract

Many recent studies examine how Indonesian politicians pursue electoral support in the contemporary Indonesian democratic system. There are also some studies that examine the important civil society phenomenon of Islamic female Majelis Taklim (MT) prayer groups in Indonesia. This study contributes to the key academic literature on female voter participation in Indonesian elections and the Islamic female network represented by MT groups. It explores the linkage of politicians and female voters in a specific group: members of MT in the local context of Jambi Province during the 2019 presidential and legislative elections. More specifically, the thesis explores how electoral support from Muslim women is sought through these prayer groups. The turnout of female voters in Indonesia, including in the province of Jambi, has been increasing in the democratic era, encouraging politicians to target female voters. This study aims to investigate the strategies used by politicians when approaching female voters, and how female voters responded to those politicians' strategies. It also examines the perception of the politicians towards female voters and the expectations that these voters have of the politicians who seek their votes. It argues that patronage politics with the religious approach in the local context is still the main instrument through which politicians pursue support from female voters. The thesis shows that MT has evolved into an informal facilitator for promoting Muslim women's political concerns in the Jambi region. Although their ability to express their concerns through MT groups is limited, the group's ability to influence politics can become a vehicle for the advancement of Muslim women's interests after vote mobilisation.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English