Radicalization and Deradicalization in Indonesia: Lessons from the 2018 Surabaya Church Bombing Tragedy (Sociological Perspective)

Abstract

This research uses the sociology of religion to study radicalization and de-radicalization in Indonesia. The research focuses on the church bombings in Surabaya in 2018. This research uses a qualitative methodology, collecting data from related literature, previous studies, and other articles. This research aims to identify religious, social, and cultural elements that encourage individuals or groups to engage in extremist acts and evaluate how effective deradicalization efforts have been after the event. The results show that radicalization in Indonesia is often influenced by a combination of internal factors, such as socio-economic marginalization and narrow religious interpretations, and external factors, such as radical ideologies spread through social networks. Meanwhile, deradicalization, which involves interfaith dialogue, critical education, and social reintegration, shows different results depending on the approach and social context. This research provides a new perspective on how religion contributes to radicalization and deradicalization, as well as how it impacts extremism prevention policies and tactics in Indonesia