HMI AT THE CROSSROADS: ANOMIE, PRAGMATISM, AND THE CRISIS OF SOLIDARITY
Oleh: Luqmanulhakim (Kader HMI Komfaksy Cabang Ciputat)
Indeed, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has revealed Islam as the true and perfect guidance, designed to regulate human life in accordance with their primordial nature as khalifah on earth, with the sole obligation of devoting themselves to His presence. Whether or not the opening paragraph of the Mukaddimah of the Islamic Students Association (HmI) Constitution is considered essential, I argue that it is no less significant than Article Four (the objectives of HmI). For in reality, many active cadres, alumni, and organizational elements though academically inclined oppress those still in the process of learning. Many claim to be creators yet worship their own creations; many profess to be servants yet exploit their fellow cadres. Such disoriented practices cannot possibly be held accountable for building a just and prosperous society blessed by Allah SWT. Yet, not all succumb to this deviation some continue to uphold independence and idealism, relying on their own efforts rather than the empty promises of senior figures.
The second paragraph of the Mukaddimah explains life in accordance with human nature: the harmonious integration of worldly and spiritual dimensions, of faith, knowledge, and action, aimed at attaining happiness both in this world and the hereafter. If this principle were truly internalized, disorientation within the organization would not exist. However, reality shows otherwise: the orientation of HmI actors has become increasingly worldly, while the spiritual dimension fades. Intellectual culture has been swallowed by technology and digitalization. Thus, the wholeness envisioned in the Mukaddimah remains unfulfilled, leaving HmI actors estranged from the essence of human nature. These two paragraphs alone should suffice as a mirror for cadres to reevaluate their orientation, realign their struggle, and correct their disorientation in life.
To anticipate this disorientation, deeper discussion is required. Social theory offers a lens to uncover the root of the problem and its solutions. Here, I employ Emile Durkheim’s framework: examining how social facts shape individual and collective values, and questioning whether HmI embodies mechanical or organic solidarity.
Durkheim’s analytical blade focuses on individual behavior shaped by social facts phenomena external to the individual. To understand society, one must examine these external forces customs, laws, language that compel individuals to act according to institutional standards. Durkheim distinguishes between material social facts (laws, professions, governance, social structures) and non-material ones (morality, culture, norms, beliefs, religion).
The phenomenon within HmI, through Durkheim’s lens, is anomie: the weakening or distortion of social norms, manifesting as disorientation. The decline of discussion culture and the reluctance to read books starkly illustrate the erosion of intellectual norms once celebrated among HMI cadres. This is driven by new social facts in the digital era existence in social media. Today, values are shaped and dominated by online metrics. An HmI member who is considered ‘cool’ is no longer defined as someone who engages in extensive reading or actively contributes to discussions, but rather as an individual who possesses a large number of followers, admirers, and appealing post. This reflect the normative shift that has taken place.
Mechanically, HmI’s intellectual tradition has weakened; organically, inconsistent cadre development has bred pragmatism and individualism. Alumni, particularly those in politics, have set poor examples, reinforcing this deviation. While organizational life inevitably demands realism, it must not abandon the ethical and organizational independence that HmI once upheld.
To correct these misguided orientations, Talcott Parsons’ AGIL framework offers a solution:
- Adaptation: HmI must adapt to digitalization, embedding values and norms through optimized use of media. Reality now exists both physically and virtually; both must be harmonized.
- Goal Attainment: Cadre development and organizational activities must consistently align with HmI’s noble ideals.
- Integration: Collective solidarity must be strengthened, countering rampant individualism. Problems must be seen as collective, not merely the burden of leaders or select cadres.
- Latency: Positive values must be preserved while reviving intellectual traditions through consistent routines monthly discussions, gradually intensified.
The Mukaddimah of HmI’s Constitution affirms Islam as a way of life uniting worldly and
spiritual dimensions, faith, knowledge, and action. Yet today’s cadres reveal disorientation, weakened intellectual norms, pragmatism, and the dominance of social media culture. Durkheim’s analysis exposes this as anomie, while Parsons’ AGIL framework provides a path forward. Thus, HmI’s orientation must be reevaluated: revitalizing intellectual norms, reinforcing solidarity, and recalibrating cadre strategies to meet digital era challenges so that the organization’s struggle remains aligned with humanity’s primordial role as khalifah on earth.
