Populist student organizations in Indonesia: an analysis of anti-establishment ideas

Experts argue that Indonesia is being affected by a wave of populism, with the most prominent form being right-wing populism pushed by Islamic groups. However, despite the research on populism in Indonesia, the issue of populism and students has not been fully explored by scholars. Students have been impactful in several phases of change in Indonesia’s political history. This article argues that populist movements—specifically Islamic populism—exist and develop in on campuses. This paper aims to explain both the model and the reality of populism among Islamic students in Indonesia and determine which is more populist. This article explores this phenomenon by studying two Islamic student organizations in Indonesia, the Muslim Student Association (Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam; HMI) and GEMA Liberation (GEMA Pembebasan). We chose these two organizations because of their existence and age. This research used an ideational approach with a qualitative analysis framework. The data collected consisted of primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through an interview process with 24 key informants, consisting of central-level administrators, alumni, and members of each organization. Secondary data was obtained from various media reports and official organizational documents. This research found two populist organizational models among Islamic students, represented by HMI and GEMA Liberation. Analysis of the two cases shows that HMI’s populism appears more moderate or thin than that of GEMA Liberation, which is much stronger and more assertive. The determination of which organization is more populist is based on two approaches: the number of individuals following the organization and the correspondence between their ideas and the practical steps they take for change. Based on the first approach, HMI is more populist than GEMA Liberation. If considered based on the second approach, GEMA Liberation is more populist than HMI.