Effectiveness of Countering Radicalism through Character Education

Abstract

Radicalization is the cause of social degradation and the security stability of a country. This study aims to determine the success, effectiveness, and uniqueness of overcoming radicalism by using the pattern of character education at the Malahayati Polytechnic Aceh. This research uses a qualitative case study research type. The sampling technique used purposive sampling and snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 10 respondents consisting of education managers, institutional managers, character education unit managers, Aceh polytechnic cadets, and the community. Primary data in the form of interviews with designated respondents. Secondary data is in the form of supporting literature on overcoming radicalism through character education. The data analysis technique used is the Miles and Huberman model. With the pattern of data collection analysis, data reduction, and concluding. The results of this study were successful in the application of character education for cadets at the Malahayati Aceh Polytechnic which focused on three concepts, namely moral knowing, moral feeling, and moral action. The uniqueness of the pattern of character education built full of brotherhood, cadets are very tolerant and very respectful of older people and between followers of Islam and non-Muslims. Deradicalism is also built through activities from the basic period of character formation, mental development period, character formation period, character maturation period and character maturation period with cultural habituation to foster nationalism, love for the homeland, mutual respect between religious adherents mingle between tribes in life in dormitories.