The Role of the Kyai in the 2004 Presidential Election: A Case Study in East Java

This article examines the role and influence of the Kyai in the 2004 presidential elections through an examination of the voting patterns in East Java. The Kyais, who are considered experts in Islam, traditionally have an important role in the history of Islam and politics in Indonesia as community and religious leaders. Since independence in 1945 until the reform era (1998) and even during the course of the first presidential and vice-presidential elections in 2004, the Kyai played a significant role in influencing the political dynamics of the community. East Java is known as the land of a thousand Islamic schools (pesantren) and had the largest number of voters nationally in the 2004 presidential elections. The role of Kyai as a leader and a leading figure in the schools and surrounding communities has a significant impact in determining the people’s political choices . This article assesses the Kyai’s political role in East Java in the 2004 presidential election and their impact on political preferences of voters in choosing the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. This study uses the method of observation and interviews covering the presidential nomination stage, the implementation process and the post-election period. This study shows that although the Kyais were not the sole factor in determining the election victory in East Java, their role was significant in the outcome of the 2004 presidential election.