Political Participation and Student Social Movement: The Experiences of Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam in Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT: One of the student movements in Indonesia is HMI (Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam/Association of Islamic University Students), a student movement shaped by Islamic value system. This paper tries to examine the practices of HMI in order to realize Islam as a way of life and a universal value relating to politics performance. This study was conducted in HMI, data were collected purposively in Jakarta. Interview with PB (Pengurus Besar/National Board), non-participant observation, and documentation study were arranged. The research shows that HMI, since 1947, as an instrumental part on Indonesian educational and political activities progress in enhancing and developing the potency of youth generation. Through involvement in wide range activity is one way to increase awareness among students of the possibilities to learn about and practice management and leadership skills. After graduation from the universities, many students chair political party activities and appoint in various positions within government institutions. As a result, those activities allow them participate in Indonesia development and contribute to national progress that direct by Islamic belief, value, and culture.
KEY WORD: Student Movements in Indonesia; Position and Roles of HMI; Islamic Society in Indonesia State. 

ABSTRAKSI: “Partisipasi Politik dan Gerakan Sosial Mahasiswa: Pengalaman Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam di Indonesia”. Salah satu gerakan mahasiswa di Indonesia adalah HMI (Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam), sebuah gerakan mahasiswa yang dibentuk oleh sistem nilai Islam. Makalah ini mencoba untuk meneliti praktik-praktik HMI dalam mewujudkan Islam sebagai jalan hidup dan nilai universal yang berkaitan dengan kinerja politik. Studi ini dilakukan di HMI, data dikumpulkan secara purposif di Jakarta. Wawancara dengan PB (Pengurus Besar), observasi non-partisipan, dan studi dokumentasi dilakukan. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa HMI, sejak 1947, sebagai bagian penting dalam kemajuan kegiatan pendidikan dan politik Indonesia dalam meningkatkan dan mengembangkan potensi generasi muda. Melalui keterlibatan dalam berbagai kegiatan merupakan salah satu cara untuk meningkatkan kesadaran di kalangan mahasiswa tentang kemungkinan untuk belajar dan mempraktikkan keterampilan manajemen dan kepemimpinan. Setelah lulus dari universitas, banyak mahasiswa memimpin kegiatan partai politik dan diangkat ke berbagai posisi di lembaga pemerintahan. Akibatnya, kegiatan-kegiatan tersebut memungkinkan mereka untuk berpartisipasi dalam pembangunan Indonesia dan berkontribusi pada kemajuan nasional yang diarahkan oleh keyakinan, nilai, dan budaya Islam.
KATA KUNCI: Gerakan Mahasiswa di Indonesia; Posisi dan Peran HMI; Umat Islam di Negara Indonesia.

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About the Authors: Ismail Suardi Wekke, Ph.D. is a Senior Lecturer at the STAIN (Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri/College of Public Islamic Religion) Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia; and Adjunct Professor at the College University of Yayasan Pahang, Malaysia. Dr. Sidratahta Mukhtar is a Lecturer at the Program of Social and Political Science UKI (Universitas Kristen Indonesia/Private University of Indonesia Christian) Jakarta. Corresponding Authors: iswekke@gmail.com and lintas@antarbangsa.net

Suggested Citation: Wekke, Ismail Suardi & Sidratahta Mukhtar. (2026). “Political Participation and Student Social Movement: The Experiences of Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam in Indonesia” in INSANCITA: Journal of Islamic Studies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Volume 11(2), August, pp.1-28. Bandung, West Java, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Suci Foundation and ASPENSI, with ISSN 2443-1776 (print) and ISSN 2657-0491 (online).

Article Timeline: Accepted (March 27, 2026); Revised (July 15, 2026); and Published (August 17, 2026).