The Internationalization of the Muhammadiyah Movement: Strategies, Networks, and Its Impacts
Keywords:
Muhammadiyah, Internationalization, Transnational Islam, Islamic Modernism, Global NetworkAbstract
The Muhammadiyah movement, founded in 1912 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, has evolved from a domestic Islamic reform organization into a significant transnational religious actor. This article examines the internationalization strategies employed by Muhammadiyah, the global networks it has built, and the broader impacts of its outreach on education, humanitarian affairs, and inter-civilizational dialogue. Using a qualitative approach based on systematic literature review and document analysis, this study identifies three principal pillars of Muhammadiyah's international engagement: (1) establishing overseas branches and institutional partnerships; (2) disseminating its progressive Islamic thought through educational and media channels; and (3) participating in global humanitarian and interfaith platforms. The findings reveal that Muhammadiyah's internationalization is driven by a distinctive theological framework that integrates Islamic modernism with civic engagement, enabling the organization to operate effectively across diverse sociopolitical contexts. Its expanding global presence carries significant implications for understanding how non-state religious actors contribute to transnational civil society and moderate Islam's public diplomacy on the world stage.
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