Islam and the beginnings of independence movements in Indonesia

Abstract

The article presents beginnings of the independence movements in Indonesia. The paper focuses on conditions (mainly economic) which led to radical anti-colonial attitudes. Scattered populations of the Archipelago lived in significant isolation without any ideas of common identity. That is why dissatisfaction with colonial rule was not enough to take up independence struggles. The main binder or tool to inspire Indonesian people was Islam. Educated elites used people’s anger and united them under the ideas of Islam. There were some differences between Islamic scholars, however, the idea of holy war was common for every Muslim.