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Religion and local culture: Pillars of social harmony in post-conflict Aceh

Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan · Vol. 22 No. 2 (2025) · pp. 253–266

DOI
10.21831/jc.v22i2.87874
ISSN
2541-1918, 1829-5789
Published
2025-09-17
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0

Abstract

The prolonged conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has resulted in social disruption, collective trauma, and the weakening of community social structures. Although a peace agreement was reached through the 2005 Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding, the greatest post-conflict challenge lies in rebuilding trust, solidarity, and social harmony. An interesting phenomenon is the success of Acehnese society in achieving social stability through internal strengths, particularly a strong Islamic religious approach and deeply rooted local culture. This article aims to analyze the contribution of religious and local cultural approaches in fostering post-conflict social harmony in Aceh. This study is qualitative in nature, using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews, document analysis, and surveys. Key informants consisted of religious leaders (ulama), traditional leaders, former GAM combatants, women leaders, youth, and village officials located in former conflict-affected regions such as Pidie, North Aceh, and Bireuen. Data analysis employed a thematic approach through data reduction, categorization, interpretation of findings, and inductive conclusion drawing. The findings show that religious approaches, through the active roles of ulama, religious gatherings (majelis taklim), and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), have been effective in restoring faith-based values and community social ethics. Meanwhile, local cultural elements such as peusijuek (traditional blessing rituals), gampong deliberations, and customary village institutions have served as effective means of social reconciliation, strengthening community ties and resolving horizontal conflicts. The synergy between religious values and local wisdom has formed a strong social system for maintaining peace and preventing future conflicts. In conclusion, religious and local cultural approaches have proven to be fundamental pillars in creating sustainable social harmony in post-conflict Aceh. This model can serve as a strategic reference for other conflict-affected regions seeking to build peace through local potential.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 100 co-authorship links · showing the 40 most connected

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  • Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Zuly QodirMuhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta3
Zakaria EfendiAffiliation unknown2
Meysella Al Firdha HanimAffiliation unknown2
Henky FernandoAffiliation unknown2
Yuniar Galuh LarasatiAffiliation unknown2
Hasse JubbaMuhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta2
Muhamad NastainAffiliation unknown2
Sanusi SanusiAffiliation unknown2
Noor FatmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Muhajir Al-FairusyAffiliation unknown1
Sawaluddin SawaluddinAffiliation unknown1
Rahman RahmanAffiliation unknown1
Tasmim TangngarengAffiliation unknown1
Zaenuddin Hudi PrasojoAffiliation unknown1
Maghfira Nur AzizaAffiliation unknown1
Abd Aziz Tambunan AzizAffiliation unknown1
Abdul Rahman HamidAffiliation unknown1
Intan Permata SariAffiliation unknown1
Sastro Mustapa WantuAffiliation unknown1
Yowan TamuAffiliation unknown1
Safira MustaqillaAffiliation unknown1
Moch Nur IchwanAffiliation unknown1
Lailatussaadah LailatussaadahAffiliation unknown1
Linda FirdawatyAffiliation unknown1
Khodijatul QodriyahAffiliation unknown1
Ihsan RahmatAffiliation unknown1
Najahan MusyafakAffiliation unknown1
Umdatul HasanahAffiliation unknown1
Halimatusa’diyah Halimatusa’diyahAffiliation unknown1
Putri Ananda SakaAffiliation unknown1
Leanne MorinAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad HendriAffiliation 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.uny.ac.id/index.php/civics/oai, first harvested 9 Nov 2026, last seen 9 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
<oai_dc:dc xmlns="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/  http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd">
	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Religion and local culture: Pillars of social harmony in post-conflict Aceh</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Maimun</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Suhendrayatna</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Abdullah, Irwan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Yusuf, Rusli</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Syamsulrizal</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Sanusi</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Putra, Irwan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Avci, Gorkem</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">social harmony</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">religion and local culture</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">post-conflict</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">The prolonged conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has resulted in social disruption, collective trauma, and the weakening of community social structures. Although a peace agreement was reached through the 2005 Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding, the greatest post-conflict challenge lies in rebuilding trust, solidarity, and social harmony. An interesting phenomenon is the success of Acehnese society in achieving social stability through internal strengths, particularly a strong Islamic religious approach and deeply rooted local culture. This article aims to analyze the contribution of religious and local cultural approaches in fostering post-conflict social harmony in Aceh. This study is qualitative in nature, using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews, document analysis, and surveys. Key informants consisted of religious leaders (ulama), traditional leaders, former GAM combatants, women leaders, youth, and village officials located in former conflict-affected regions such as Pidie, North Aceh, and Bireuen. Data analysis employed a thematic approach through data reduction, categorization, interpretation of findings, and inductive conclusion drawing. The findings show that religious approaches, through the active roles of ulama, religious gatherings (majelis taklim), and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), have been effective in restoring faith-based values and community social ethics. Meanwhile, local cultural elements such as peusijuek (traditional blessing rituals), gampong deliberations, and customary village institutions have served as effective means of social reconciliation, strengthening community ties and resolving horizontal conflicts. The synergy between religious values and local wisdom has formed a strong social system for maintaining peace and preventing future conflicts. In conclusion, religious and local cultural approaches have proven to be fundamental pillars in creating sustainable social harmony in post-conflict Aceh. This model can serve as a strategic reference for other conflict-affected regions seeking to build peace through local potential.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-09-17</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.uny.ac.id/index.php/civics/article/view/87874</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.21831/jc.v22i2.87874</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan; Vol. 22 No. 2 (2025); 253-266</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2541-1918</dc:source>
	<dc:source>1829-5789</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/civics/article/view/87874/24144</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2025 Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>