My first thanks go to my supervisor, Dr. Greg Fealy of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University. I have benefited greatly from the experience of being his student for four and half years. His wide ranging knowledge of Indonesian politics and Islam has helped me in structuring and making better analysis in this thesis. His critical and careful reading of various drafts has been most valuable in making the thesis more accessible to broader intellectual communities. Professor Virginia Hooker read several chapters and provided detailed and valuable comments. Professor Harold Crouch of The Australian National University has given his precious time to discuss preliminary drafts of my research proposal and offered important comments.

Particular thanks also go to my editor, Dr. Wendy Mukheerje of the Southeast Asia Centre, Faculty of Asian Studies, ANU, who has been very kind in reading, editing and polishing my drafts. Without her assistance I would not have been able to finish my study on time.

I am very much indebted to the Indonesian community and student associations in Canberra that have provided wonderful moments of social gathering which relieved me for a moment from a long and tiring process of writing up the thesis. My gratitude, especially, goes to all my best friends in ANU, Agus Abdullah, Arif Zamhari, Daryono, Della Temenggung, Deny Hamdani, Din Salehuddin, Firman Noer, Hamdan Juhannis, Jonery, Kacung Marijan, Lukmanul Hakim, Mokhamad Mahdum, Muhammad Yasir Yusuf, Rusan Nasruddin, Muhammad Yasin, Nashihin, Taufiq Prabowo, Yogi Vidyattama and those whose names are not mentioned here but contributed so much support to me and my family during our stay in Canberra. Especially to Dr. Amin Samad and Jajang Setiadi, thank you for your kind hospitality.

I also thank the Yayasan Bina Bangsa in Jakarta which facilitated my study in Australia. Thanks, too, to Ausaid and its committees who helped me by providing a scholarship and generous assistance during my study at The Australian National University. Thanks to all respondents in Indonesia, particularly from the Prosperous Justice Party, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) who gave of their time to enable me to conduct my research. Thanks also to Dr. Muhammad Luthfi, Head of the Arabic Department, Faculty of Humanities, The University of Indonesia in Jakarta who has always encouraged me to deepen my knowledge.

My lasting and deepest thanks go to my beloved wife, Soraya and children, M. Hakan Enayata and Hilwa Taqiyya for their patience and forbearance in accompanying me and supporting my study. I am very thankful to have been granted such a wonderful wife and children.