Dissertation Research: Modernity, Islam and Tradition in Indonesia

本项目涉及一位哈佛大学文化人类学专业学生的学位论文研究。该项目旨在研究印度尼西亚的伊斯兰社会如何解释对当地社区成员的外部影响，以及如何根据当地对现代化和传统的承诺来形成当地的伊斯兰认同。利用参与观察的民族志技术，对每个社区的100户家庭进行调查，并将仪式和社交场合录制下来，然后用来询问人们意义，学生将研究两个当地社区和三项活动：宗教节日、宗教戏剧和婚礼仪式。需要检验的具体假设是，当地伊斯兰领导人对现代性、当地民族传统和宗教虔诚的态度将对当地对国家层面要求融入国家认同的压力的反应产生强大的影响。该项目将有助于增进有关族裔的知识，并将提供关于宗教机构如何塑造当地习俗以及这与族裔认同感之间的关系的见解。该项目将增进我们对伊斯兰教因素如何融入印尼人日常实践的理解，并有助于该国对这一南亚重要地区的专业知识。

This project involves the dissertation research of a cultural anthropology student from Harvard University. The project is to study how an Islamic society in Indonesia interprets outside influences for the local community members in general, and how local Islamic identity is formed in light of local commitments towards both modernization and tradition. Using ethnographic techniques of participant observation, a survey of 100 households in each community, and videotaping of ceremonies and social occasions that will then be used to question people about meanings, the student will study two local communities and three activities: a religious festival, a religious drama, wedding ceremonies. The specific hypothesis to be tested is that attitudes of local Islamic leadership towards modernity, local ethnic traditions, and religious piety will exert a powerful influence on local responses to national-level pressures to blend with a national identity. This project will contribute to advancing knowledge concerning ethnicity and will offer insights into how local practices are shaped by religious institutions and how this is related to perceptions of ethnic identity. The project will advance our understanding of how Islam factors into the everyday practices of Indonesians, and contribute to the nation's expertise about this important area of South Asia.