Revisiting the Shariatism Thesis: Islam, Ethno-Natonalisme and the Remaking of Hybrid Identites in Post-Conflict Aceh, Indonesia

This study discusses the intersections of religion, ethnicity and nationalism in the post-conflict of Aceh, which focuses on the construction of Aceh hybrid identities. Based on empirical data of interviews, observation and documentation collected from 2017 to 2021, this study argues the victory of Shariatism in remaking of Acehnese contemporary identity discourse. This study also argued that the development of post-conflict local democracy contributes This study discusses the intersections of religion, ethnicity and nationalism in the post-conflict of Aceh, which focuses on the construction of Acehnese hybrid identities. To defend this theory, the authors explore three pivotal aspects, including the consistent victory of a local political party in Aceh which carries the idea of Acehnese nationalism in three post-conflict elections; the reception and Acehnese custom and cultural dominance against Sharia canons; and integration of Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah doctrine. This study concludes that the local democracy in the post-conflict of Aceh contributes significantly to the formation of the hybrid identities which are dominated by the idea of ethnonationalism than Islamism. The formation then eliminates the binary opposition and reconstructs a new identity in the post-conflict of Aceh.