MANAGING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CRISIS IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia experienced considerable ethnic violence during the 1998 Asian economic crisis. The response of Yogyakarta society became a positive example of how civil society actors manage socio-economic crises. Despite the potentially explosive ethnic mix and the impoverished economic condition, the people of Yogyakarta cooperated with each other to prevent ethnic and religious violence. Some observers attributed this ethnic peace to the leadership role of local traditional leaders. On closer examination, however, interfaith civic actors were found to have played a crucial role in preventing ethnic violence. The members of these organisations inspired local business associations to form the Association of the Fellowship of Yogyakarta Society to facilitate the provision of food packages and financial aid. They also initiated the establishment of the Yogyakarta Humanitarian Committee to coordinate the activities of civil society actors and formed the Yogyakarta Volunteer Team to check any provocation during the period. This vigorous civic engagement was a distinctive feature in Yogyakarta unlike other conflicted cities such as Jakarta or Solo and helped to prevent anti-Chinese violence in Yogyakarta during the 1998 economic crisis.1 1An earlier version of this article was presented at the Asia-Pacific Seminar Series of the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy on 20 March 2008. I thank James Cotton, David Lovell, Minako Sakai, Paul Tickell, Edwin Jürriens, Taufiq Tanasaldy and the anonymous IMW referees for their invaluable suggestions and comments.