Pesantren and Peace Education Development: Challenges, Strategies and Contribution to Deradicalization in Indonesia

Abstract

Developing peace education in society is the ‘main gateway’ of Indonesian civilization in the future to create tolerant, moderate and inclusive human beings. This study aims to identify challenges, strategies, and contribution to developing peace education for deradicalization in Pesantren al-Bidayah Pasuruan and Pesantren Miftahul Ula, Nganjuk, East Java which are famous as ‘humanist pesantrens’ with unique diversity of religious thoughts, cultures, and beliefs around them. This research is a qualitative research using interactive analysis model that consists of data reduction, data display and data verification. The conclusions of this study are: First, the challenges of peace education development at Pesantren al-Bidayah Pasuruan and Pesantren Miftahul Ula Nganjuk encompass several forms: the ideological challenge of religious social fundamentalism, religious political cannibalism, and exclusive religious education. Second, the strategies of implementing peace education development at the two pesantrens include: learning to understand cultural diversity, learning to understand religious plurality, and learning to understand social economic-based community. Third, the contribution of peace education development at the two pesantrens includes: contribution of building non-violence culture, developing cultural appreciation of human rights, and awakening democratic values   and tolerance around society.