Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and political Islam : identity, ideology and religio-political mobilization / Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Comprehending the phenomenon of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Indonesia -- The selected elites of a global Islamic party : a history of Hizb ut-Tahrir -- Unravelling the history of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia -- Capitalizing on opportunities for the caliphate -- Procuring resources for the party -- The power of ideas : the ideology of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia -- Developing a Hizbi identity.

"Offers a timely examination of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), a chapter of the transnational movement Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), whose key aim is the revival of the caliphate. It cautions against an overly simplistic read of a group like HTI and political Islam in Indonesia. While there is much to laud, particularly with regards to how leaders in Indonesia have attempted to counteract Islamist extremism, insofar as the trajectory of non-violent Islamism in Indonesia is concerned, there are clear reasons for apprehension. Groups like the HTI have been adept in utilising the democratic space in Indonesia to propound their illiberal objectives, including encouraging the curtailment of Indonesian art forms that are deemed un-Islamic, and more importantly pushing for certain Islamic sects, such as the Ahmadiyahs, to be banned. Yet, despite its extreme posturing, HTI is accepted as a mainstream Muslim organization. As such, the Indonesian chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir represents a unique case: unlike other chapters, which are deemed as extreme and fringe, HTI though radical, still exists within the space provided by the Indonesian religio-political landscape. The book offers new insights on HTI's history, organizational structure and ideology, adding considerable new details about HTI and correcting errors in existing literature, while directing its primary focus on explaining HTI's rapid growth in Indonesia. The central argument is that the key to understanding HTI's growth lies in the role that collective identity plays in attracting new members and retaining its existing members within the party. This goes on to emphasize and show that collective identity remains the most crucial factor in the party's growth"-- Provided by publisher.