MIHI FGD Series “The US Presidential Election and the Muslim World”

In conjunction with the upcoming of the United States Presidential Election, Master of International Relations (MIHI) Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) proudly organized a Forum Group Discussion (FGD) entitled “The US Presidential Election and the Future of the Muslim World Political Order,” with Prof. Tulus Warsito as a head of PhD program in Political Islam UMY.
Prof. who had the experience living in the United States in 1970, emphasizes that the US election system is totally different with Indonesia’s system. In American system have called Popular Vote and the Electoral Vote. Popular Vote means the voters directly cast ballots for the candidates, while electoral votes is the voters not directly choose the president/vice president, instead they choose “electors/senators”, who usually pledge to vote for particular candidates. Interestingly, popular vote which equal to direct election as recognized in Indonesia is “useless” in the US system. The presidential candidates will be determined by the electoral votes. In contrast to this, Indonesian popular vote will determine the victory of the candidates.
Political mythology is also exist in the US modern and democratic society. The myth believes that those who will become US President should be W.A.S.P. (M). W for White, A for Anglo, S for Saxon, P for Protestant, and M for male. Therefore, the US presidential palace called “White House” not others colors. But, there were only two US presidents that can bust the myth namely the 35th President of the United States John F. Kennedy (Catholic) and the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama (Black man).
In the context of the rivalry between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, she will likely to break the myth as she is the first female to become US President. Regarding the US presidential election and the Islamic world, Prof. Tulus assert that Hillary Clinton closer to Islamic society/world as she was born and grew up in Chicago as one of city with most populous Muslim in the US.
Among the attendance are Dr. Surwandono (head of MIHI), Prof. Dr. Heru Nugroho (faculty of economics), Ali Maksum Ph.D., Dr. Ahmad Sahide, as well as some graduates students of MIHI.