Democratization and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Nine Theses by Edward Aspinall

Journal of East Asian Studies 11 (2011), 289-319: Democratization and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Nine Theses

Author: Edward Aspinall

Overview

• Thesis: The portrayal of Indonesia as a country characterized by strong ethnic politics is misleading.

  • Ethnic politics have greatly diminished since democratization began in 1998 after President Suharto's resignation.

  • The prevailing politics in Indonesia can be categorized as soft ethnic politics.

• Post-Suharto Context:

  • Following Suharto's downfall, communal violence erupted in several regions, indicating a rise in ethnopolitics.

  • The new democratic system has led to a decline in ethnic polarization and community violence.

• Aim: To present nine theses on ethnic politics in contemporary Indonesia and explore frameworks for understanding the roles of institutional design, historical legacies, and patronage systems.

Key Themes and Definitions

• Key Concepts:

  • Democratization: The process of moving from an authoritarian regime to a more democratic one.

  • Ethnicity: Complex definitions ranging from comprehensive characteristics like common descent, shared culture, specific territory to simpler definitions focusing on descent attributes (Chandra, 2006).

  • Ethnic Politics: Mobilization of ethnic categories to capture state power or influence state policies and structures.

• Political Structure: Indonesia is a weakly ethnicized polity where ethnicity plays a minimal role in political life despite ethnic symbols being suggested during local elections.

The Nine Theses of Ethnic Politics in Indonesia

1. Politicization and Mobilization of Ethnicity:

   • Peak occurred during the democratic transition (1998-2001) but subsequently declined.

   • Ethnic conflicts, assertions, and claims mobilized during the initial transition phase.

   • Instances included violent ethnic conflicts and formation of ethnic political organizations.

2. Indonesia as a Weakly Ethnicized Polity:

   • Despite perceptions of rising ethnic political movements, ethnicity's role remains surprisingly minimal.

   • Absence of ethnic parties and weak institutionalization in subnational units hinder strong ethnic political organization.

3. Soft Ethnic Politics in Local Contests:

   • Ethnic identity still influences local elections (pilkada), but this influence is characterized as soft mobilization.

   • Ethnic symbols used mainly for authenticity rather than promoting ethnic grievances.

4. Lack of Ideological Depth in Ethnic Politics:

   • Ethnic appeals in elections tend to be formulaic and superficial.

   • No robust ideologies emerge from ethnic politics, evident in educational reforms.

5. Limited Political Impact of Ethnic Organizations:

   • While ethnic organizations proliferated during the transition, their overall political influence is weak.

   • Ethnic gangs often engage in criminal activities rather than meaningful political action.

6. Ethnic Cooperation in Democratic Consolidation:

   • Post-transition witnessed interethnic cooperation rather than conflict.

   • Successful candidates often adopt inclusive and cross-ethnic strategies.

7. Fragmentation of Ethnic Identities:

   • The democratic process fragmented ethnic identities through decentralization and local political structures.

   • Ethnic affiliations become less consequential at national levels.

8. Patronage Over Ethnicity:

   • Political dynamics in Indonesia are heavily influenced by patronage networks rather than strict ethnic agendas.

   • Successful candidates build broad networks across various social and ethnic lines.

9. Exceptions to the General Trends:

   • Certain regions (Aceh, Papua) exhibit a stronger persistence of ethnic politics tied to local identities and past conflicts.

Conclusion

• Overall Observation:

  • Indonesia's ethnically driven conflicts decreased alongside democratization, leading to a political landscape characterized by soft ethnic politics rather than rigid ethnic contestation.

  • Predictions of an ethnification of the nation have not materialized, indicating a resilience of inclusive national identity.

  • Ethnic categories remain present but function within broader frameworks of patronage and compromise rather than conflict.

Implications

• Emphasis on institutional reforms serves as a potential model for understanding ethnic dynamics in other multicultural democracies.

• Research opportunities exist to explore deeper mechanisms behind the resilience of Indonesia's multicultural identity.