Migrant Traders in the Marketplaces (Pasar) and their Domination in the Post-conflict Society of the Moluccas Province, Indonesia

Abstract

This article is about the domination of Butonese migrant traders in three urban marketplaces (pasar) of Ambon in the aftermath of sectarian conflict. The research examines how Butonese migrant traders struggle for their sovereign space and how they deal with the dissatisfied local traders in light of their domination in the market. The Butonese migrant traders also demonstrate an uncanny ability in political lobbying and creating businesses based on family networking. At the horizontal level, they construct their emotional connections and minimalise local people’s jealousy over their dominance in the market by reinventing local ceremonies in the marketplace, while at the vertical level, the Butonese traders create credit access and political contacts with the central government in Jakarta and with local legislators—most of whom belong to Islamic parties. The market has become a space for leveling-up the migrant trader’s self-esteem since, outside the market, local people (orang negeri) question their citizenship status.