The Issue of Radicalism

The state is obliged to take part in maintaining peace in its territory and is obliged to fortify itself from attacks by any ideologies that contradict the values that exist in its territory.

The term radicalism comes from a Latin word, namely radix or radicis, which means “root”. In English, the word radical can mean “extreme”, “thorough”, “fanatical”, “revolutionary” and “fundamental”.

Linguistically, the term radical is actually neutral; it can take on a positive or negative meaning. In his writing, Mitsuo Nakamura, an anthropologist, explains that Nahdlatul Ulama is an organization with a radical traditionalist character. The term radical was chosen by Nakamura to describe Nahdlatul Ulama an autonomous and independent organization that was not a derivative of some other organization.