public of Indonesia for the 2019-2024 period. There
are two online media reviewed, namely kompas.com,
and republika.com.
2 THEORITICAL REVIEW
Ulama and Power
The history of Indonesia during the colonial period,
the Dutch government once restricted the political
role of the scholars. Even various regulations made
by the colonial only to alienate the ulama from vari-
ous activities that could cause social-political turmoil.
This effort was carried out by the colonial government
because ulama were considered to be an influential
group capable of mobilizing the masses to oppose the
colonial government so that it could potentially create
socio-political conflicts. So it is not surprising, if the
strategy of seizure of power carried out by the ulama
is not oriented to occupying the position of ruler, but
seeks to save the Indonesian republic unit from the
cruelty of the invaders.
In principle, the concept of power encourages the
ongoing process of zero sum which can be analogous
to that one party will benefit and the other party will
bear the loss. Because it is this zero-sum approach
that causes the inevitable power of conflictual situa-
tions with the logic of their thinking is that each other
of the class facing each other will try to maintain or
gain power. Thus, the actual power relations are suffi-
ciently appropriate to be studied from the Marxian ap-
proach which considers that in power relations there
is always a dominant (superordinate) class and subor-
dinated class, and therefore it is possible for the resis-
tance movement to be typical Marxian (Muslim et al.,
2015).
In understanding Marxian power relations this can
be traced from the four steps of the approach: first,
power relations as manifestations of special modes
or configurations of class domination rather than as a
phenomenon of pure interpersonal relations. Second,
power relations pay close attention to the relation-
ship between economy, politics and the dominance of
class ideology. Third, power relations pay attention to
the limitations inherent in many executions of power
rooted in a class or other form of class domination
and try to explain this in structural contradictions and
antagonisms. Fourth, Marxian directs strategies and
tactics to reproduce, defend or overthrow class domi-
nation (Muslim et al., 2015).
Politics and Power
When talking about politics and power, the stereotype
that emerges is that politics as a means of gaining
power. In fact, the political meaning and power are
not as cheap as that, precisely politics must be under-
stood philosophically as a manifestation of the efforts
of every citizen to achieve common good or mutual
interests.
”The abuse of power in the political world that is
often carried out by political actors raises the view
that the main purpose of participating in politics is
only to gain power. In fact, in essence the use of
power in politics aims to regulate the interests of all
people in the organization, not for personal or group
interests. For this reason, the limitation of power is
very necessary in order to grow the trust of members
of the organization towards the holders of power and
the creation of justice and comfort in life (Paramita,
2011).
In his article, Paramitha also explained that power
is the capacity a person has to influence the way
people think and behave in accordance with what
they want. This power can be obtained from various
sources which are divided into formal power and per-
sonal power. Power is usually synonymous with poli-
tics. Politics itself is interpreted as an effort to partic-
ipate in managing and controlling community affairs.
”The abuse of power in the political world that is
often carried out by political actors raises the view
that the main purpose of participating in politics is
only to gain power. In fact, in essence the use of
power in politics aims to regulate the interests of the
entire community, not for personal or group interests.
For this reason, the limitation of power is very nec-
essary in order to grow public trust in the holders of
power and the creation of justice and comfort in life.
Politics and power are exercised to balance the indi-
vidual interests of employees and the interests of man-
agers, as well as the interests of the organization”.
Ulama and Politics
The phenomenon of scholars contributing to politics
is not unusual. However, the position of the ulama in
the midst of the ummah must be placed in a place that
is in accordance with the realm of the ulama (khittah).
Ahead of the upcoming 2019 Election and Presiden-
tial Election, the involvement of ulama in Indonesia’s
democratic political vortex must get the right atten-
tion. More than that, serious criticism is needed in
order to return the ulama to their khittah and make re-
ligion a source of inspiration, not disintegration. This
is what must be the attention of the Indonesian people
when ulama are in a practical political vortex.
Zuhairi Misrawi in his article in Geotimes stated
that the ulama were not actually involved in politics,
either directly or indirectly. Ulama must be an ex-
ample and heir of the Prophets who build harmony
among the people, not just the opposite to encourage
disharmony.
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