Ethnic Sentiments Research Articles

Do ethnic politics matter? Reassessing the role of ethnicity in local elections in Indonesia

ABSTRACT While recent scholarship has investigated the role of money politics in Indonesia, much less has been said about the part played by sentiments of identity. We argue here that ethnicity and religion remain crucial to an understanding of the processes of local politics and electioneering. We have coined the term ethnicity and religion based organization (ERBO) and used it as a basis for an examination of ethnicity and religion based identity politics in Lampung, the southernmost province of Sumatra. Ethnic identity dovetails largely with religious identity and is a dominant force in the local politics of Lampung, a province that, while multi-ethnic, has a population consisting overwhelmingly of migrants who relocated from the island of Java primarily as a result of the transmigration programme. ERBOs are the vehicle used by local leaders to channel ethnic sentiment and translate it into votes; they are often instrumental in selecting and campaigning for candidates, ensuring voter turnout and arranging rewards. Reflecting ethnic sensitivities, however, some ERBOs refrain from entering the political domain and direct their energies to social and cultural spheres. In presenting this evidence, we seek to qualify recent claims that ethnicity no longer plays an important part in Indonesian politics.

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Versus Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah): A Contestation Over Interpretation of Islam in Malaysian Politics

This study analysed contending views over interpretation of Islam in politics between two major Malaysian Islamist political parties; Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH), and how the differing discourses taken were reflected electorally. It explored the historical dynamics of conservatism and progressivism within PAS, and by extension AMANAH as its splinter party. Primary and secondary documentation analysis was conducted on resources ranging from writings and speeches of respective party figures, official documents and extensive literatures written on the subject. The research concluded firstly, a preference over Malay communalistic ideas in PAS was the main factor that led to the systematic elimination of AMANAH. Secondly, while PAS has a long historical root centred upon creation of Islamic state, implementation of hudud, and exclusivist attitude towards others, AMANAH views Islam from the higher objectives of syariah that emphasizes good governance, justice, and inclusivity regardless of religious and ethnic differences. Thirdly, a mutual contestation existed, id est not only AMANAH challenged the conservative Islamist narrative of PAS, PAS also challenged the progressive Islamist narrative of AMANAH. Finally, electoral contestation between PAS and AMANAH shown that AMANAH managed to edge over PAS in 14th General Election (GE14). However, PAS capitalized on ethnic sentiments to gain unprecedented electoral success in 15th General Election (GE15). While this research was limited to existing data in the field, future studies could utilize quantitative methods to explore how electorates on the ground grasp respective parties’ ideas and contestation.

Indonesia According to Sam Ratulangie: a Contribution of thoughts from Minahasa to Indonesia

This article departs from the central issue that Indonesia is currently again faced with the issue of religious radicalism and ethnic sentiment. The roots of the Pancasila ideology, namely nationalism, religion and communism, which are the basic values ​​of the nation's ideology and philosophy, are starting to be opposed to one another. Religious people once again put forward the issue of communism as the source of the nation's problems. Meanwhile, lay people and academics tend to see the politicization of religion in it. This also had an impact on national-local ideological turmoil. The assumption that Pancasila is not yet fully understood and fully supported at the local level, so it is full of conflicts and interests, makes the author interested in raising this title. Minahasa, as part of Indonesia which has a Christian majority, feels that it has contributed to the process of becoming Indonesian. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this article aims to describe the ideas of Sam Ratulangie - thinker, fighter and futurologist from Minahasa - about being Indonesian, then analyze them to obtain the contribution of Minahasa ideas and thoughts to Indonesia. This article ultimately concludes that Minahasa plays a very important role in the process of becoming Indonesian.

Study of Identity Politics in the 2019 Simultaneous Regional Head Election in Tarakan City, Indonesia

As an archipelagic country with the largest number of ethnic groups and religions in the world, Indonesia is a multicultural and multi-religious country which currently influences the democratic process in Indonesia, one of which is the Regional Head Election (Pilkada). Tarakan City is an ethnically and religiously diverse city which in its democratic process is still influenced by issues of religious and ethnic sentiment which are accommodated and used well by political elites as instruments in every regional head election. This research uses a qualitative approach with case studies. Data collection techniques use interviews, documentation and audio visuals. The theories used in this research are identity politics, multiculturalism, political participation, political elites, and simultaneous regional elections. The data analysis used in this research refers to a data analysis model which includes three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and data verification. Based on the research results, it shows that political elites and regional head candidates seem to deliberately maintain or play identity politics, for political interests and power hegemony. This had an impact on the political reality in the 2019 Simultaneous Regional Head Election in Tarakan City. With a certain identity, regional head candidates can hold a bargaining position, which shows that ethnic and religious factors are significant enough to gain support and influence people's choices in the 2019 Simultaneous Regional Elections in Tarakan City. This also proves that the people of Tarakan are voters who only care about figures and similar backgrounds rather than the skills and abilities of regional head candidate pairs.

Segregation and Wellbeing of Third-generation Migrants in Akpabuyo, Nigeria

The situation associated with migrant population in any society is not devoid of challenges and is most time tainted with ethnic sentiment and social exclusion. Therefore, this study examined the effect of segregation on the wellbeing of third-generation migrants in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the upshot of employment, socio-political and economic exclusion on the wellbeing of third-generation migrants. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in selecting the sample for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 331 respondents. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that socio-political, employment and economic marginalization of third-generation migrants negatively affect their wellbeing. Importantly, it accounts for the high level of unemployment and drug addiction, poor access to education and health, low level of income, high crime rate and lack of basic social amenities among third-generation migrants in Akpabuyo, Nigeria. The study recommends that government at all levels should adopt a comprehensive and inclusive policy that would ensure the highest possible level of equality, assimilation, and social cohesion among migrants and indigenous population.

Manifestation of Lingnan Folk Dance Culture within Dance Compositions

Lingnan folk dance, the traditional dance art form of the Lingnan of China, encapsulates the humanistic sentiment of the area. Various types of Lingnan folk dances reflect the simple and hardworking life attitude of the laboring populace in the Lingnan. The Lingnan of China is characterized by its rich folk cultural diversity, resulting in unique Lingnan dance styles under the influence of different folk cultures. The varied and dynamic variations of the typical Lingnan folk dance styles can be categorized into examples like Lingnan opera folk dance and lifestyle folk dance. Impacted by the multi-ethnic culture and social consciousness of the Lingnan, folk dances primarily express ethnic sentiment within dance compositions. The use of dance as a medium accomplishes the transmission of folk dance art, exemplifying folk culture in the process of this conveyance. As a means of cultural inheritance in the Guangdong and Guangxi, the elements of daily life should be emphasized within dance compositions of Lingnan folk dance, along with the aesthetic representation of dance. This thesis will summarize the content and artistic connotations of Lingnan folk dance and will further delve into the manifestation forms of folk dance culture.

CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WHIRLPOOL OF THE FAILED STATE OF SOMALIA AND PIRACY: THE SECURITY CHALLENGE FACING THE HORN OF AFRICA

One of the threatening and devastating security dilemma, which truncates and disturbs global peace and security, is the transnational criminal acts of sea piracy. Thus, the international water ways have seen the flow of business, persons, ships for both commercial and mobility reasons, perturbed by attacks from sea pirates. This has manifested mostly in the Horn of Africa’s Somalia sea coast off the Gulf of Aden, indian ocean leading to kidnappings, hijackings, arms trade and proliferation etc. The study adopts the content analysis as its methodology. Data were retrieved from mainly secondary sources (textbooks, journal publications, magazines etc). While the failed state and securitization Theory were explored to buttress the work. Based on the findings, the study discovered that the magnitude and high incidence of piracy in the Horn of Africa, emanates from the collapse of Somalia State during the regime of President Siad Barre:a regime that reign based on ethnic sentiment, high-handedness, victimization of oppositions.This bred up a society of dissentment and challenge to legitimacy as the state could not ensure it's existence , and it's failure to provide social amenities,and and finally fell prey to militias.this paved the way for the emergence of various criminal groups, warlords, militias, religious fundamentals etc struggling the state with the central government. The study recommends among other things: prioritizing the concept of human security, effective governance, establishing and maintaining effective security in both land, waters and air, the emergence of a formidable regional security bloc to counter terrorism, state piracy and other criminality in the region.

Inclusiveness and Social Justice in Evaluation: An Evaluability Assessment

Kenya is a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse society that has witnessed conflicts arising from this ethnic and cultural diversity. The country’s politics is tainted with ethnic sentiments and politically induced disharmony. This paper used evaluability assessment to determine whether two issues identified in the Kenyan Cohesion and Integration Policy as threats to building a unified nation are evaluable, feasible and of use to achieve the policy’s objectives. The feasibility study, better known as an evaluability assessment, confirms that these two issues can be evaluated and can help policymakers and practitioners to achieve the country’s dream of building one cohesive nation that is proud of its diversity. Based on the discussion in this paper, it is advised that Kenya uses the evaluability assessment to provide short-and long-term outcomes that might be examined to measure efficacy and save superfluous or poorly conceived full-scale evaluations. The evaluability assessment method could be used in other, well-established programs related to the Kenya National and Integration Policy with a variety of stakeholders to foster new thinking and the potential for more focused and effective evaluations, even though there may be variations between programs and it is still unclear how generalisable these results may be. The next step would be to continue with an evaluation based on the results of this evaluability assessment and to continue refining the logic model with input from the participants.

Echoes of Ethnicity: Popular Music and the Resurgence of Igbo Nationalism in Democratic Nigeria

AbstractThis article discusses the ethnicization of Igbo popular music amid renewed secessionist calls for the defunct state of Biafra. It engages with people's interpretation of ethnic sentiments as expressed in the music of two Igbo popular musicians in Nigeria and the significance of this phenomenon. Given the undercurrents of ethnic rifts, which preceded the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967–1970), postwar Nigerian society remains fraught with questions of ethnonationalism. Within the heated polity, Igbo popular musicians routinely engage in nostalgic discourses about Biafra by articulating the catastrophes of the past and mobilizing the populace to confront present challenges. Specifically, the article engages with the dialectics of ethnonationalism in contemporary Igbo popular music via critical analysis of current repertoire. It contends that Igbo popular musicians deploy ethnic memories, symbols, and cultural essentials as potent political, communication, and mobilization strategies to nurture the consciousness of the Igbo nation in Nigeria.

Dynamics of Jambi Malay Ethnic Group in The Political Contestation of Jambi Mayor Election

Primordial loyalty that breeds fanaticism is often used by politicians as a shortcut and easy way to gather support. By using primordial interests, politicians do not need to work hard to gain support from the people. This research seeks to explain why Jambi Malay ethnic loyalty, as the dominant group, was not formed in relation to the Mayor Election in Jambi City. What are the factors that cause Malay ethnic sentiment not to appear. The data in this study were obtained through in-depth interviews, documentation, and news in the mass media. It is possible for the results of this study to be replicated in areas outside Jambi City to see whether the ethnic Malays elsewhere also have the same cultural roots, political attitudes, and habits, or vice versa. The results of this study will provide an explanation of the theoretical implications of the political events that occurred in the city of Jambi. The results of this study can be used to predict the future of Malay ethnic politics in the midst of an electoral democratic political system that is taking place in Indonesia.

Chinese-Language Memories under the Conflagration of War

Abstract As a Chinese-medium educational institution, Chung Ling High School (CLHS) in Penang enjoyed an illustrious reputation in the Malayan era. During the fall of Penang in World War II, the deaths of eight teachers and forty-six students from CLHS marked a painful episode in the history of Penang's intellectual community, manifested in their sense of trauma and reflections on the crisis of Chinese education. After CLHS was reopened during the postwar period, the school set up a committee to commemorate the sacrifices of its teachers and students through memorial services, erection of a monument, and publication of tribute books. Applying the theories of French historian Pierre Nora, this article discusses how the ensuing les lieux de mémoire (sites of memory) formed through the sacrifices of CLHS teachers and students, inscribing the plight of literary lineage and cultural severance, which in turn takes on the role of reviving and perpetuating the ethnic Chinese spirit. In this sense, the sacrifices of the CLHS teachers and students as “sites of memory” have become a part of the ethnic community's collective memory. When we examine how war memory texts are constructed, the CLHS tragedy embeds the connections between Chinese education and the ethnic sentiments of the Chinese community during the Japanese occupation.

Ethiopia and the Running Sores of Ethnic Federalism: The Antithetical Forces of Statehood and Nationhood

Ethnic federalism in Ethiopia proved non-viable in practice because it came to be widely seen as a political tool used by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)-dominated Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), whose ideological foundation was inspired by Soviet system of ‘democratic centralism’: a benign façade that veneered an authoritarian vanguard party operating under a token parliament. This article examines the dynamics of statehood and nationhood: antithetical forces of integration and differentiation, which play out around the commonly shared albeit highly contested polity of the nation-state. The need to dialectically resolve these antagonistic though mutualistic stakes lies at the epicentre of political debate in contemporary Ethiopia, ultimately pointing to the constitutional reform dilemmas it now faces. By drawing on literature on political theory, the article argues that the federal constitution proved antagonistic to the inherited politico-cultural orientations that posited the nation-state as the principal supranational identity. By redefining narrow forms of collective identity that were anchored precisely on ethnic sentiments that grew largely in reaction to perceived injustices, the federal constitution appeared neither to embrace, as a system of legitimation, the characteristic and authoritative dimensions of ‘Ethiopian’ identity as a supra-national universal habitus of loyalty and identification. Nor did it provide integrative cohesion to an otherwise essentially differentiated primordial ethnic and linguistic identity features that now came to be diffused and indeed accentuated at sub-national regions as rigid and hermetic sites of conflict and strife, rather than discursive, reflexive, and interactive domains of cultural and social life.

Language and Ethnic sentiments in Nigeria: Evidence from Facebook comments

Given the role of English as a language of wider communication in Nigeria, it is possible for people with different languages to interact without much linguistic barrier. The English language, therefore, facilitates communication. However, ethnic differences are still evident in the reactions and comments of people in different discourses which sometimes may lead to conflict and separation. A lot of studies exist which explore the roles of language in national development and unity and those that investigate patterns of self-assertiveness among ethnic groups characterised by ethnolinguistic vitality. However, patterns of ideological conflicts and solidarity based on ethnic affiliations have been under-researched. The present study relies on readers’ responses to Facebook comments to determine the role of language and ethnicity in solidarity formations in Nigeria. Data for this work was collected on the Facebook timelines of some socio-cultural groups in Nigeria. Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory and its revised standard version was adopted as the theory for the analysis. We discovered at the end of the work that ethnic bias reflects in the comment and response of people on Facebook. The use of linguistic and sociolinguistic features aid the ethnic inclusion and exclusion on Facebook.

Perangkap Agama dan Etnik: Melatarbelakangi Niat Memilih Pemilih Milenial

Millennial voters are a potential community that is a strategic target for pairs of candidates for regional election contestation to reap the coffers of votes. The campaign approach using religious and ethnic sentiments is an alternative strategy. This study looks at religion and ethnicity influencing millennial voters’ voting intentions. The research method uses quantitative methods with multiple linear regression. The research sample was drawn randomly according to the criteria so that the answers to 280 respondents were analyzed. The study results found that religion significantly influenced millennial voter intentions, while ethnicity did not affect millennial voter intentions. Millennial voters tend not to be interested in practical politics.

AN APPRAISAL OF THE DILEMMA OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

For any Democracy to thrive, the onus lies significantly on the activities and strength of political parties. It is framework as per- analyzing the efficacy and efficiency of democracy in both the developed and developing countries. However, it is a different kettle of fish in Nigeria as our political parties are characterized by primordial and gender chauvinistic tendencies, inadequate ideology, inadequate mechanism and ethnic sentiments. Information is mainly sourced from existing literature and among other sources. This paper adopts the structural functionalist theory as a method of analyzing the political system in the country. Modern challenges of democracy in the country were highlighted, such as: ethnicism, inadequate political institution, poor internal democratic culture, electoral misconduct (vote buying, etc.), gender inequality, religious diversity, among others. Measures on how best to sustain the country’s democracy are strengthening democratic institutions, shunning: ethno-religious sentiment; electoral misconduct of any magnitude; among others.

Metaphor in Children's Poetry Composed by Mahmoud Kianoush and Soleiman al-Issa

Mahmoud Kianoush, known as the Father of children's poetry in Iran, is one of the contemporary poets who composes simple and straightforward poems. Kianoush's poetry is the reflection of his thoughts and contemplation on the innate relationship between human and nature. Kianoush is a poet whose mind is abundant with people's issues. Among his works, there are 8 books which are specifically written as poems for children and young adults: The Language of Things, Indian Green Parrot, Gold Tip - Silver Wing, Garden of Stars, World's Children, Seven-Colored Arch, the Sun of our House, and Poem by Poem. Considering literary status, Kianoush's poetry can be considered among the most eminent kinds of poetry. The figures of his poetry include imagery especially simile, metaphor, and personification. Soleiman al-Issa is one of the outstanding Syrian poets whose predominant themes are motherland and ethnic sentiments. He has dedicated a major part of his odes (poems) to children especially to suffering Arab children. In his odes, Soleiman al-Issa uses some types of imagery which are easily understood by children. The variety of nominal, verbal, explicit, and implicit metaphors are especially noticed in his poetry. Also, he uses Personification which creates synesthesia and enlivens his poems. Focusing on metaphors, the present study aims to analyze and investigate children's poetry composed by the two Persian and Arab poets, Mahmoud Kianoush and Soleiman al-Issa.

Majoritarianism and digital rights: understanding Kashmir and the ‘Othering of Other’ in the context of India

We live in a world that is increasingly surrounded by visuals. From postcards, photographs, bill boards, magazines to the television screen and now the coming of the internet, the reality comes in mediated forms through multiple and contesting forms of visual culture. The screens proliferate and get embedded in the lives of individuals. This has resulted in increased accessibility and use of smart phones with reduced data costs leading to forging solidarities across nations and creation of shared culture of visuals and writings. It is noted that on the flipside, circulation of misinformation and disinformation takes place to embolden the ethnic majoritarian sentiments that have ideological affiliation with the present ruling party in India. The abrogation of article 370 and article 35A by the present government that gave special status of autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir was arguably unconstitutional but celebrated as a victory of nationalism. In the aftermath of the abrogation, Kashmir witnessed internet ban for more than hundred days and therefore, communication was blocked by the government in the name of safeguarding sovereignty of the Indian nation state and maintenance of public order. Hence, the issue from being technical is political when some people are disconnected (outlawed) from cyber space. The article attends at understanding the context in which some people has been silenced with the internet ban and protest symbols that are historically contextualised but also has the potential to create something new with assemblage of protesting people, visibility of digital technologies and contention in the present regime.

Le sentiment ethnique coréen, han恨, et sa fonction de guérison psychosociale dans le contexte historique de l’Asie de l’Est du XVIIe siècle

"Ethnic sentiment sheds light on a peculiarity of the Korean soul as a collective imagination, which is often explained through the word han (恨). To understand one of its historical elements, the biographical account of the Korean military Kim Yŏngchŏl interests us: the suffering of the character is linked to the historical context of East Asia of the 17th century and his feelings about the meaning of the word han are different from those of Emperor Nurhachi."

Identifying the Undeserving Poor: The Effect of Racial, Ethnic, and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment on State Medicaid Eligibility

ABSTRACT In the United States, race and racism are woven into the very fabric of the welfare state. Racial antipathy has undermined public support for benefits perceived as favoring African Americans and has resulted in significant cuts in programs for the poor. Recently, some studies have found that public discussion on immigration has linked attitudes toward Hispanics and illegal immigrants with preferences toward programs once overwhelmingly influenced by racial attitudes. Building on this literature, the present study assesses the effect of racial and ethnic attitudes on state policy outcomes. Specifically, we examine Medicaid eligibility criteria for four categories of beneficiaries, ranked by level of perceived deservingness. We find that eligibility limits are most generous for children, followed by pregnant women and parents. Benefits for “other adults” (low-income non-parents aged 18–64) are subject to more stringent eligibility criteria or entirely unavailable. In contrast with the limits for other groups, the primary attitudinal predictors of Medicaid eligibility limits for the “other adults” category are antipathy toward Blacks, Hispanics, and illegal immigrants. These results confirm that perceptions of deservingness are a central component of U.S. social policy and demonstrate that material policy outcomes – not just policy preferences – are substantially shaped by attitudes toward Hispanics and immigrants as well as African Americans.

Niger Delta conflict and the cry for restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria: A study of Akpos Adesi's Agadagba Warriors

AbstractThe Nigerian polity, since its independence, has faced many problems. Some of these problems are high rates of unemployment and poverty, religious intolerance, inter‐ethnic conflicts, resource control, etc. Attempts have been made by the past and present governments to address some of these challenges, but all attempts have proven futile. This has led many concerned groups to call for a restructuring of the country to make for fairness in the distribution and management of the nation's resources. This paper examines restructuring and the cry for true federalism in Nigeria using Akpos Adesi's Agadagba Warriors whose premiere performance was on the 12 May 2006 as a case study. The study employs the case study and content analysis research approaches of the qualitative method. The paper claims that Akpos Adesi's play metaphorizes the main causes of anti‐Nigeria agitations, deduced from the text as ethnic sentiments, lack of equity in the sharing of the nation's resources and concentration of political authority at the central government. As seen in the play, the Niger Delta, amongst the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, contributes the highest quota to Nigeria's economy, in terms of crude oil production, which is the mainstay of Nigeria's economy. However, the lack of the practice of true federalism and unequal distribution of the wealth accrued from crude oil sales to the Niger Delta results in constant conflict between the federal government and Niger Deltans. Separatist tendencies and the clamour for restructuring of the nation by the Niger Deltans become the driving themes of this discourse.