Intellectual Polarization among Gayo Muslims Following the Dutch Ethical Policy

Polarisasi Intelektual Muslim Gayo Pasca Kebijakan Politik Etis Belanda

Abstract

Abstract

The implementation of the Dutch Ethical Policy, particularly in the field of education, marked a turning point in the cultural development of the Indonesian archipelago. It fostered the rise of a new intellectual class driven by aspirations for reform and emancipation, who articulated their ideas through socio-religious and educational organizations. This study investigates the intellectual polarization among Gayo Muslims that emerged in the wake of this policy. It addresses two core inquiries: the causes behind the polarization and its subsequent dynamics. Adopting a historical method with a socio-cultural approach, the research finds that the Dutch educational system significantly influenced this intellectual divide. Initially resisted by traditionalist circles who perceived it as a deviation from Islamic orthodoxy the Western model of education gradually produced a cohort of critical thinkers. These individuals began to challenge established religious rituals, labeling them as inconsistent with the essence of Islam.  As a result, Gayo Muslim intellectuals became ideologically fragmented into two primary camps: the traditionalist group (Kaom Tue) and the modernist or reformist group (Kaom Mude).