Fundamentalism among Acehnese youth: Acehnese university students’ attitudes on religious fundamentalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and militia sentiments

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to measure the attitude levels of Acehnese university students on religious fundamentalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and militia sentiments and determine whether there are strong correlations between these attitudes. Methodology: A modified Islamic and Indonesian version of the Revised Religious Fundamentalism Scale, the Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale, and the Militia Scale were employed in an online survey. The survey gathered 308 responses and 85 of them completed. Results: Acehnese Muslims display a 69.3%, 54% and 58% attitude level of religious fundamentalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and militia sentiments respectively, displaying attitudes significantly higher than Toronto Muslims, Hindus, Jews, United States and Canadian Christians, and Ghanaian Christians and Muslims. Religious fundamentalist attitudes correlated 72% with right-wing authoritarian attitudes and 62% with militia sentiments. Right-wing authoritarianism correlated 61% with militia sentiments. Implications: The findings of this study are useful in understanding the interlocking social relationships of religious fundamentalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and militia sentiments. Specifically, these findings indicate the challenges the Indonesian government still face in empowering democracy and restoring the central government’s legitimacy in Aceh. Originality: This study adapts well-known scales into a unique Indonesian and Islamic context, providing a unique perspective in the discussion of religious fundamentalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and militia sentiments. It elucidates the unique personality of Acehnese youth, whom have been under studied.