State, Religion, and Symbolic Violence

Religious Discrimination and Intolerance in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper explores the role of the state in Indonesia in perpetuating symbolic violence against religious minorities, as well as how the suppression of religious activities illustrates the state's failure to uphold its constitutional commitment to religious freedom. Motivated by the increasing incidents of discrimination and intolerance perpetrated by both the public and state authorities, this study aims to identify and critically analyze the mechanisms through which symbolic violence is enacted, the neglect of minority protections, and the legal rhetoric employed to legitimize such actions. Using a qualitative methodology that combines normative legal analysis with a critical sociological perspective, this research examines legislation, legal doctrines, and illustrative case studies. It draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic violence, Karen Armstrong’s theory of aggression, as well as the principles of strict scrutiny and the conceptual distinction between 'security' and 'safety' as outlined in the ICCPR framework. The findings reveal that the state, both actively and passively, contributes to the production and normalization of symbolic violence, often yielding to majoritarian pressures and invoking 'public order' to curtail religious freedoms. Despite ratifying the ICCPR, Indonesia has not fully internalized its principles into national law, resulting in ambiguous human rights protections. This paper concludes that without structural reforms and a firm commitment to secular legal principles, the future of pluralism in Indonesia remains at risk