The Hajj, Reinvented: Pilgrimage, Mobility and Inter-State Organizations in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia

Abstract

This dissertation offers an ethnographic study of the Indonesian hajj as a bureaucratized inter-state arena shaped by colonial legacies, major infrastructure projects, and the persistent role of traditional brokers. Drawing on multi-sited fieldwork in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia and extensive archival research, it traces the evolution of hajj administration from the New Order to the establishment of Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj. The study highlights persistent coordination challenges between Indonesian and Saudi authorities, revealing the fragility of governing the world’s largest pilgrimage, even as kyais (Islamic scholars) and their networks continue to mediate pilgrims, state regulation, and commercial interests amid quotas, security protocols, and Mecca’s urban transformation.The research analyzes bureaucratic practices, transnational coordination strains, and pilgrims’ agency during organizational failures. By integrating concepts of liminality and cultural brokerage with studies of religion and power, it advances a “reinvented ritual” framework, illuminating how traditional authority intertwines with modern state governance of sacred mobility.