This thesis was started at a time when Indonesia was in a turmoil of ideological camps, in which international peace and order could be endangered. The nationalists, according to one of their prominent leaders, Roeslan Abdulgani, are still in search of an Indonesian identity, fighting their way to their dim goal, exerting all their strength and their dearly gained knowledge . The Muslim masses, responding to the call of their faith, cherish the aim of establishing a “Baldatun tayyibatun wa Rabbun Ghafur”, a “beautiful, pure and prosperous country under the protection of God the Forgiver”. These Muslims have been and are still willing to sacrifice everything which is dear to them, but due to the lack of the needed knowledge and skill the unwieldly masses can move only slowly, not yet able to compete with the Western educated and skilled nationalists. [...]

No description available.

Haji Agus Salim (1884--1954) was an Indonesian Muslim political figure of the Nationalist Era (1908--1945). He was influential in two important associations; Sarekat Islam (SI-Islamic Union) and the Jong Islamieten Bond (JIB-Young Muslim Union). Salim was born into religious family and had a Western education. In 1915 when he joined the Sarekat Islam it was at the height of its popularity. Salim became so engrossed with its goals, that he devoted most of his life to it. As such, he was soon able to obtain a high-ranking position in it, and to help formulate the movement's strategies. This thesis presents a number of Salim's positions on politics which show his disagreement and criticism of the Dutch Colonial policy and its effects, as well as his advocacy of an Islamic approach to politics rather than "socialism" as advocated by communist members of the SI. These views aimed at the paramount goal of freeing Indonesia from the Dutch colonialism. His views on "Nationalism" can be gleaned from his exchange of polemics with Sukarno, later president of Indonesia. These polemics portrayed Salim as a nationalist who would not depart from a religious viewpoint. Finally, his involvement with JIB was a continuation of his desire to implement and promote Islamic values among Young Indonesian Muslims of Western education, whom he regarded as the future leaders of the country.

No description available.