The Islamic Republic relies on a number of distinct but related institutional clusters to maintain power. This include the institutional means through which the state politically incorporates social groups into its orbit; institutional mechanisms of control; a number of “veto players”; those institutions that help maintain the system; the deep state; intra-elite competition; and, patronage and clientelism.

Chapter 5 explores the role of social institutions in human rights implementation by way of a case study. Using the example of Islamic law and organisations as social institutions, the study examines their role in implementing women’s right to family planning in Indonesia. The study exposes the ways in which Islamic law and organisations were involved in Indonesia’s family planning programme, and assesses their role and contribution as perceived by local actors. Chapter 5 pays special attention to the agency of Muslim reformists (particularly ‘Muslim feminists’) in offering reinterpretations of Islamic law that promote women’s health and equality. The study concludes that Islam was instrumental to the programme’s success, and reflects normatively on whether/to what extent states should engage social institutions in implementing their human rights treaty obligations. The chapter then evaluates and critiques the approach to Islam taken by the UN treaty bodies in their supervision of Indonesia’s domestic implementation.

The introductory chapter frames the book in the contemporary setting of persistent human rights violations, increasing human rights contestation and shifting global dynamics. The chapter articulates the challenge of human rights implementation, highlighting the gap between international norms and local realities. It identifies several problematic factors in the effective domestic implementation of international human rights law. First, the chapter addresses the long-standing cultural critique of universal human rights, and their continued cultural disconnect in many societies today. It then addresses the state-centric and legalistic nature of human rights as problematic factors in implementation. This first chapter advocates an increased role for other (non-legal) measures and other (non-state) actors in the domestic implementation of human rights in order to overcome the problems identified. Specifically, a greater role for social institutions is advocated. Finally, the first chapter sets out the book’s research design, case study and structure.