The Relationship Between Islam and the State from a Political Sociology Perspective: Legitimacy, Hegemony, and Symbolic Capital

Abstract

The relationship between Islam and the state remains a central issue in Islamic political studies, particularly in understanding how religious authority interacts with political power and state institutions. This study examines this relationship through a conceptual synthesis of political legitimacy, hegemony, and symbolic capital, comparing Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye, and Egypt. Using qualitative library research, the study analyzes classical theories and contemporary scholarship through thematic comparison and conceptual interpretation. The findings reveal distinct patterns of Islam-state relations across the five countries. In Indonesia, Islamic authority and symbols operate within a pluralistic constitutional framework based on Pancasila, serving both as resources for political participation and as instruments of social criticism. In Saudi Arabia, the relationship is characterized by the close association between religious authority and monarchical power. In Iran, religious authority is institutionally embedded in the political system, giving religious institutions a formal role in political legitimacy. In Türkiye, Islamic discourse has become an important resource in the political consolidation of the ruling party and the contestation of opposition groups, illustrating the potential use of religion to reinforce political hegemony. In Egypt, the relationship reflects tensions between state control over religious institutions and the political mobilization of religious authority. These comparisons demonstrate that symbolic capital contributes to political legitimacy only when religious authority receives social recognition and is considered credible. Religious discourse may strengthen political dominance, facilitate political mobilization, or provide a basis for resistance, depending on institutional arrangements and historical contexts. By integrating Weber’s theory of legitimacy, Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, and Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic capital, this study develops a framework for understanding Islam-state relations as a dynamic process involving social recognition, the formation of consent, and the contestation of political authority. The study highlights that the political influence of religion depends not merely on its formal position within the state but also on the social conditions under which religious authority gains, maintains, or loses public recognition.