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Strategic Ambiguity in Governing Religious Deviance: Policy Inconsistency, Social Stability, and Human Rights in Indonesia

Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya · Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 17–34

DOI
10.15575/jw.v11i1.52069
ISSN
2502-3489, 2527-3213
Published
2026-06-30
Publisher
the Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

Indonesia has an extensive regulatory framework for governing religious life, yet allegations of religious deviance continue to expose a tension between state regulation, social stability, and the constitutional protection of freedom of religion or belief. This article examines Indonesia from 2000 to 2020 and shows that, despite having legal and administrative tools, the government’s inconsistent application of them functions as a deliberate form of strategic ambiguity. Using a qualitative design, the study combines document analysis of key regulations and policy instruments with comparative case analysis of seven selected cases of groups labelled aliran sesat (lit. “deviant streams”) between 2000 and 2020. The data, including fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), government regulations, human rights reports, media chronologies, and scholarly literature, are analysed through thematic coding informed by Dunn’s policy framework and Blumer’s symbolic interactionism. The analysis identifies four recurring policy patterns: (1) selective law enforcement based on perceived social impact; (2) reactive rather than proactive government response; (3) selective adoption of MUI recommendations or fatwas; and (4) asymmetrical protection of rights. These patterns generate legal uncertainty and unequal protection, disproportionately affecting minority groups whose freedom of religion or belief is constitutionally guaranteed. The article argues that policy ambiguity is not merely an implementation failure, but a strategic governance pattern produced by competing imperatives of public order, majoritarian religious authority, and rights commitments. It recommends clearer procedural thresholds, rights-based early response mechanisms, and transparent institutional accountability in handling allegations of religious deviance, offering insights for the broader study of religion, society, and minority rights in plural contexts such as Indonesia.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

29 authors · 75 co-authorship links

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Institut Agama Islam Negeri Manado
  • State University of Malang
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Faradila HasanAffiliation unknown5
Rosdalina BukidoInstitut Agama Islam Negeri Manado4
ImamuddinAffiliation unknown3
Nurlaila HarunAffiliation unknown2
Lutfi Budi IlmawanState University of Malang1
Miftahul JannahAffiliation unknown1
Hilman AsyrafiAffiliation unknown1
Nita HandayaniAffiliation unknown1
Fadly ShabirAffiliation unknown1
ArysespajayadiAffiliation unknown1
Salma MursyidAffiliation unknown1
Naskur BilaluAffiliation unknown1
Syahrul Mubarak SubeitanAffiliation unknown1
Henky FernandoAffiliation unknown1
Yuniar Galuh LarasatiAffiliation unknown1
Edi GunawanAffiliation unknown1
Nur AzizahAffiliation unknown1
Djihan Magfirah RivaiAffiliation unknown1
Yasin YasinInstitut Agama Islam Negeri Manado1
Suprijati SaribAffiliation unknown1
Willya EvraAffiliation unknown1
Irwansyah IrwansyahAffiliation unknown1
Juliet Ningrum IrawanAffiliation unknown1
Ahmad RajafiAffiliation unknown1
Evra WillyaAffiliation unknown1
Irfan DjabliAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jw/oai, first harvested 7 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Strategic Ambiguity in Governing Religious Deviance: Policy Inconsistency, Social Stability, and Human Rights in Indonesia</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Yusuf, Nasruddin</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Jamal, Ridwan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Makka, Misbahul Munir</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Heretical Sect</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Government Policy</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Social Stability</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Human Rights</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Indonesia has an extensive regulatory framework for governing religious life, yet allegations of religious deviance continue to expose a tension between state regulation, social stability, and the constitutional protection of freedom of religion or belief. This article examines Indonesia from 2000 to 2020 and shows that, despite having legal and administrative tools, the government’s inconsistent application of them functions as a deliberate form of strategic ambiguity. Using a qualitative design, the study combines document analysis of key regulations and policy instruments with comparative case analysis of seven selected cases of groups labelled aliran sesat (lit. “deviant streams”) between 2000 and 2020. The data, including fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), government regulations, human rights reports, media chronologies, and scholarly literature, are analysed through thematic coding informed by Dunn’s policy framework and Blumer’s symbolic interactionism. The analysis identifies four recurring policy patterns: (1) selective law enforcement based on perceived social impact; (2) reactive rather than proactive government response; (3) selective adoption of MUI recommendations or fatwas; and (4) asymmetrical protection of rights. These patterns generate legal uncertainty and unequal protection, disproportionately affecting minority groups whose freedom of religion or belief is constitutionally guaranteed. The article argues that policy ambiguity is not merely an implementation failure, but a strategic governance pattern produced by competing imperatives of public order, majoritarian religious authority, and rights commitments. It recommends clearer procedural thresholds, rights-based early response mechanisms, and transparent institutional accountability in handling allegations of religious deviance, offering insights for the broader study of religion, society, and minority rights in plural contexts such as Indonesia.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">the Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-06-30</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jw/article/view/52069</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15575/jw.v11i1.52069</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya; Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026); 17-34</dc:source>
	<dc:source xml:lang="id-ID">Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya; Vol 11 No 1 (2026); 17-34</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2502-3489</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2527-3213</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15575/jw.v11i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jw/article/view/52069/16679</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2026 Nasruddin Yusuf, Ridwan Jamal, Misbahul Munir Makka</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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