Three Islamist generations, one Islamic state: the Darul Islam movement and Indonesian social transformation

This article examines the Darul Islam (DI) movement in Indonesia, which has sought to establish an Islamic state since the end of the colonial era. It questions why the movement has been resilient in spite of almost perennial political isolation and marginalization and numerous internal permutations. The article argues that the evolution of the movement has been intricately related to the exigencies of operating in the context of profound social, economic, and political changes associated with state formation and capitalist development in Indonesia since the 1940s. The DI experience helps us to understand the appeal of radical Islamist movements which voice dissent against perceived social injustices within national states where the left is no longer a viable social force.