Muhammadiyah and Peacebuilding in Southern Thailand: A Civil Society Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22219/jurnalsospol.v11i3.42873Keywords:
Civil Society, Peacebuilding, Muhammadiyah, Southern Thailand, Non-State ActorAbstract
The research aims at understanding the rationale behind Muhammadiyah's involvement in peacebuilding activities in Southern Thailand, as well as its contribution and the outcomes of its activities. The case study approach is applied in this work to gain better results in achieving the research objectives. The sources of this paper are the interviews of official Muhammadiyah delegates in peacebuilding activities in the region, official documents and policies, public use files, organizational records, and previous research and literature. The data is then analysed from the perspective of Tocqueville’s theory of civil society and assessed by the OECD's five criteria of peacebuilding, namely relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. The study indicates that the reasons behind Muhammadiyah's involvement are the ideological factor, the reputation of Din Syamsuddin as a global interfaith leader, and a sense of solidarity towards fellow Muslims. Furthermore, the most significant contribution of Muhammadiyah in Southern Thailand is the promotion of moderation through education. Muhammadiyah had granted scholarships to more than a thousand Muslim youths affected by the conflict in the region. The paper concludes that the role of Muhammadiyah in the area is significant and impactful.
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