Responding to Western Islamophobia through Religious Moderation in Indonesia: Fairclough and Wodak's Critical Discourse Perspectives

Abstract

This study is a critical discourse analysis aimed at examining the forms of ideology reflected in Western media coverage and the development of religious moderation policy in Indonesia. The data in this research consists of vocabulary, sentences, and text structures containing ideologies from news texts about Islamophobia in Western media and religious moderation in Indonesia. The data sources used are television and newspaper news in America and Europe as well as television and newspaper news in Indonesia. The process of data collection is carried out by searching and selecting relevant news texts on the research topic from predetermined data sources. Then, the selected news texts are used as data in this research. The data analysis employs the critical discourse analysis technique by Fairclough and Wodak. The results show that the extensive coverage of terrorist activities by the media has resulted in Islamophobia in the West. Similarly, biased policies and discrimination against Muslims have also contributed to acts of terror. It is crucial to utilize media in a positive manner to promote unity and tolerance among different religious communities. The agenda of religious moderation should begin with individuals showing respect and appreciation for differing opinions and beliefs.