Multidimensional Sources of Political Legitimacy Among Kyai in Tapal Kuda Area

Akmal Mundiri; Firda Fina Fitriya; Hasan Jali

doi:10.21154/altahrir.v26i1.12238

Authors

Akmal Mundiri Universitas Nurul Jadid
Firda Fina Fitriya Universitas Nurul Jadid
Hasan Jali Universiti Kuala Lumpur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21154/altahrir.v26i1.12238

Keywords:

Kyai, Political Legitimacy, Pesantren, Multidimensional Legitimacy

Abstract

This study aims to analyze and map the multidimensional sources of political legitimacy among Kyai (Islamic clerics) in Indonesia by employing a qualitative approach and a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with Kyai directly involved in political contests, as well as through observation of their socio-political activities. The findings reveal that the political legitimacy of Kyai is not singular but is constructed through the interaction of four main dimensions: (1) religious and moral legitimacy, (2) institutional legitimacy derived from pesantren ownership, (3) legitimacy obtained through political and economic networks, and (4) communicative legitimacy in the digital sphere. The first two dimensions align with Max Weber’s theory of legitimacy, charismatic, and traditional types while the latter two represent new forms of legitimacy that are not accommodated within the Weberian framework. Based on these findings, this study formulates a new theoretical model called the Adaptive Political Legitimacy of Kyai Theory, which integrates classical legitimacy with instrumental and communicative dimensions. This theory explains that the political legitimacy of Kyai in Indonesia is adaptive to social, economic, and technological changes, positioning Kyai not only as spiritual leaders but also as strategic actors in shaping the political consciousness of the Muslim community. This study contributes theoretically to the development of the concept of political legitimacy within the context of Indonesian Islam and provides practical insights for understanding the evolving role of Kyai in the increasingly complex and digitally connected modern era.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Achmadin, Balya Ziaulhaq, Mohammad Asrori, Ahmad Barizi, Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah, and Muhammad Muntahibun Nafis. “Deconstructing the Kiai and Santri Relationship: A Critical Review of Power and Cultural Dynamics.” El Harakah: Jurnal Budaya Islam 26, no. 2 (2024): 367–92.

Achmadin, Balya Ziaulhaq, Mohammad Asrori, Ahmad Barizi, Abd Haris, and Abdul Fattah. “Dismantling the Relationship between Kiai and Santri: A Critical Review of the Social and Cultural Dynamics of Pesantren in East Java.” Journal of Research and Thought on Islamic Education (JRTIE) Prodi PAI IAIN Pontianak ISSN 7, no. 2 (2024): 153–85.

Almanduri, Moh Bashori Alwi, and Andi Faisal Bakti. “The Dialectics of Ma’ruf Amin Political Communication in 2019 Presidential Elections: Influence on Voting Perspective.” Al-Balagh: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi 7, no. 2 (2022): 243–74.

Almhairat, A. “Bureaucracy Theory Revisited: Max Weber’s Ideal Type and Its Contemporary Relevance in Organizational Science.” Australian Academic & Educational Services (AAES), Business and Administrative Studies 2, no. 3 (2025): 16–27.

Arifin, Bustanul, Rudi Santoso, and Mufid Arsyad. “Mubadalah in the Transformation of Identity Politics in Indonesia: Challenges and Opportunities.” Journal of Islamic Mubadalah, 2024, 62–78.

Azzahra, Anisa Zain, and Lalu Nauval Ahsan Thofhani. “Transformasi Kharisma Kiai Dalam Masyarakat Berbasis Informasi: Studi Di Desa Adimulya, Kabupaten Cilacap.” Mukaddimah: Jurnal Studi Islam 10, no. 1 (2025): 58–80.

Bashri, Yanto. “Kiai in Indonesian Social-Political Changes.” Journal of Nahdlatul Ulama Studies 2, no. 1 (2021): 67–88.

Chairi, Effendi. “Ketiadaan Otoritas Terpusat Dalam Fenomena Kontemporer Di Indonesia:: Kritik Terhadap Teori Otoritas Max Weber.” SANGKéP: Jurnal Kajian Sosial Keagamaan 2, no. 2 (2019): 197–215.

Chalik, Abdul. “New Trajectory of Kyai’s Political Participation in Contemporary Indonesia Rises, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Indonesian Journal of Political Studies (IJPS) 2, no. 2 (2022).

Davenport, Christian, Håvard Mokleiv Nygård, Hanne Fjelde, and David Armstrong. “The Consequences of Contention: Understanding the Aftereffects of Political Conflict and Violence.” Annual Review of Political Science 22, no. 1 (2019): 361–77.

Harmathilda, Harmathilda, Yuli Yuli, Arief Rahman Hakim, Damayanti Damayanti, and Cecep Supriyadi. “Transformasi Pendidikan Pesantren Di Era Modern: Antara Tradisi Dan Inovasi.” Karimiyah 4, no. 1 (2024): 33–50.

Huff, Toby. “Max Weber, Islam, and Rationalization: A Comparative View.” Historická Sociologie 11, no. 1 (2019): 117–28.

Kamaludin, Mohammad. Pergeseran Otoritas Kiai: Dampak Dan Makna Dalam Perspektif Sosial. Jakad Media Publishing, 2023.

Khofi, Mohammad Bilutfikal, and Mufasirul Furqon. “Strategi Kepemimpinan Kiai Dalam Mengembangkan Pondok Pesantren.” INCARE, International Journal of Educational Resources 5, no. 3 (2024): 265–88.

Koehrsen, Jens. “Muslims and Climate Change: How Islam, Muslim Organizations, and Religious Leaders Influence Climate Change Perceptions and Mitigation Activities.” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 12, no. 3 (2021): e702.

Latif, Hadi, and Silfia Hanani. “Pemikiran Otoritas Max Weber Dalam Pengambilan Keputusan Di Sekolah: Studi Kasus Di Pondok Pesantren Tarbiyah Islamiyah Gobah V Surau.” Tadbiruna 4, no. 2 (2025): 242–52.

Mahardhani, Ardhana Januar, Nawiruddin Nawiruddin, Jalaluddin Jalaluddin, Julhadi Julhadi, and Muta’allim Muta’allim. “The Kyai’s Position in Rural Local Democracy Based on Patronage Politics at Tapal Kuda.” Muslim Heritage 8, no. 1 (2023): 115–32.

Maulana, Ariya. “Pengaruh Strategis Kyai dalam Mendukung Kemenangan PKB pada Pemilu Legislatif 2024 di Kendal.” Journal of Education, Humaniora and Social Sciences (JEHSS) 7, no. 2 (2024): 623–33. https://doi.org/10.34007/jehss.v7i2.2429.

Maya, Putra Muhammad Umar, Andri Soemitra, and M Shabri Abd Majid. “Pemberdayaan Ekonomi Perempuan Melalui Kewirausahaan: Tinjauan Sistematis Atas Hambatan Struktural, Kendala Partisipatif, Dan Dukungan Sosial.” Jurnal Manajemen Dan Akuntansi Medan 7, no. 2 (2025): 424–35.

Nisa, Silvia Safa’Atun, Husniatul Nisak, M Ubaidillah Ulul Albab, and Achmad Izzat Ali. “KEPEMIMPINAN DAN POLA KOMUNIKASI DALAM ORGANISASI PENDIDIKAN: INTEGRASI TEORI OTORITAS MAX WEBER DI ERA GLOBALISASI.” Jurnal Pendidikan Integratif 6, no. 2 (2025).

Nurkhin, Ahmad, Abdul Rohman, and Tri Jatmiko Wahyu Prabowo. “Accountability of Pondok Pesantren; a Systematic Literature Review.” Cogent Business & Management 11, no. 1 (2024): 2332503.

Rachman, Arief, Theguh Saumantri, and Taufik Hidayatulloh. “Transformation of Religious Authority in the Digital Era: A Post-Normal Times Analysis by Ziauddin Sardar on the Phenomenon of Social Media Da’wah.” Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 45, no. 1 (2025): 107–22.

Sari, Esi Ratna, Insanul Ma’ruf, Mamy Triana, and Rahmad Hidayat. “Praktek Kepemimpinan Pendidikan Islam Di Lembaga Pendidikan Pesantren.” Invention: Journal Research and Education Studies, 2025, 567–80.

Siregar, Ferry Muhammadsyah. “RELIGIOUS LEADER AND CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP IN INDONESIA:THE ROLE OF KYAI IN PESANTREN IN JAVA.” Jurnal Kawistara 3, no. 2 (2013). https://doi.org/10.22146/kawistara.3977.

Suryana, Dodi, and Tito Handoko. “Islamic Commodification in Representation of Political Development in Indonesia: A Systematic Literature Review.” Hayula: Indonesian Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies 7, no. 1 (2023): 51–76.

Syiddik, Raufan, and Zainal Efendi Hsb. “LEGITIMASI ULAMA DALAM KONTEKS POLITIK STUDI KASUS: PADANG LAWAS UTARA.” Al-Muhajirin: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 2, no. 1 (2025).

Wahab, Wahyudi Abdul, and M Hasbi Umar. “The Leadership Vision of Charismatic Kyai in the Implementation of Religious Moderation Values in Al-Baqiyatush Shalihat Islamic Boarding School, Jambi Province.” International Journal of Islamic Education, Research and Multiculturalism (IJIERM) 6, no. 2 (2024): 399–424.

Widiastuty, Hesty, Masdar Hilmy, and Desi Erawati. “RECONSTRUCTING RATIONALIZATION IN ISLAMIC EDUCATION: A Systematic Literature Review of Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Theory.” Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 14, no. 02 (2025): 379–400.

Yunita, Yunita, Nurmalasyari Nurmalasyari, Almas Ressul Ulia, Mukhammad Fajar Ardiansyah, Aisyah Ummu Inayah, and Ghina Via Salsabila. “Analisis Peran Modal Sosial Dalam Mendorong Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Untuk Pembangunan Inklusif Berkelanjutan.” Jurnal Intelek Dan Cendikiawan Nusantara 2, no. 3 (2025): 1786–97.

Zainuddin, Zainuddin. “Kiai Dan Politik: Implikasi Dan Masa Depan Lembaga Pendidikan Islam Di Sumatera Selatan.” Briliant: Jurnal Riset Dan Konseptual 4, no. 3 (2019): 331–40.