The shifting identity of the Dayak in Indonesia

Abstract

This study discusses the shift in ethnic identity politics during local elections in Indonesia, considering the prevalence of ethnicity and its several variants in the local political experience. The findings show that the changing power dynamics in Indonesia prompted the Dayak ethnic group to change their identity-based political features from sporadic, without a sovereign (primordialism) to structurally organized. The reason was to ensure its ethnic power (based on its values, existing ethnic polarization, and the predominance of Islam) is observed by other ethnic groups when making political decisions. Moreover, the development of Dayak customs to solve problems and fight for their interests has led to the survival of the Dayak identity and influenced Indonesian power dynamics. These are contrary to the opinions of several scholars and their supporters that Indonesia has a weak ethnic ideology.

Keywords:

• Identity
• primordialism
• adat institutionalization
• dayaks
• indonesia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Ariel Heryanto, State Terrorism and Political Identity in Indonesia: Fatally Belonging (London and New York: Routledge, 2006), https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203099827.

2 Gerry van Klinken, Communal Violence and Democratization in Indonesia: Small Town Wars (London and New York: Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series, 2007).

3 Muhtar Haboddin, “Menguatnya Politik Identitas Di Ranah Lokal,” Journal of Government and Politics 3, no. 1 (2012): 109–26, https://doi.org/10.18196/jgp.2012.0007. 4.

4 Sofyan Sjaf, “Canalization of Ethnic Politics in Makassar Sofyan,” Sodality: Journal of Rural Sociology 5, no. 2 (2017): 92–97, https://doi.org/10.22500/sodality.v5i2.17968.3.

5 Sofyan Sjaf, “Politik Etnik: Dinamika Politik Lokal di Kendari” (Jakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia, 2014).

6 Michael Coomans, Manusia Daya: Dahulu, Sekarang, Masa Depan (Gramedia, 1987).

7 Tjilik Riwut, Kalimantan Memanggil (Endang, 1958).

8 Alfred Bacon Hudson, Padju Epat: The Ethnography and Social Structure of a Ma'anjan Dajak Group in Southeastern Borneo (Cornell University, 1967).

9 Tjilik Riwut, Kalimantan Membangun, Alam Dan Kebudayaan, ed. Nila Riwut and Fahri Agus Husein (Yogyakarta: Tiara Wacana Yogya, 2007).

10 Anyualatha Haridison and JRA Sandi, “Civil Society and the Model of Dayak Identity Struggle in Central Kalimantan: A Framework of Neo-Gramscian–Tocquevillian Analysis,” in Urban Studies: Border and Mobility, ed. Thor Kerr et al. (London, UK Typeset: Taylor & Francis Group, 2019); Anyualatha Haridison, “Hapahari and Handep: Cultural Aspects in Village Head Elections in Central Kalimantan,” Indonesian Politics: Indonesian Political Science Review 6, no. 1 (2021): 17–30, https://doi.org/10.15294/ipsr.v6i1.28951; Anyualatha Haridison and JRA Sandi, “The Patterns of Collaborative Governance in Dayak Land, Central Borneo, Indonesia,” in International Conference on Public Organizations (ICONPO) (Thailand, 2019), 315–33, http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3513233.

11 Taufiq Tanasaldy, “Ethnic Identity Politics in West Kalimantan,” in Renegotiating Boundaries, ed. Gerry van Klinken (Brill, 2007), 349–71, https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004260436_016. 7.

12 Sri Astuti Buchar, Kebangkitan Etnis Menuju Politik Identitas (Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia, 2014).

13 Subianto, “Ethnic Politics and the Rise of the Dayak Bureaucrats in Local Elections” in Erb, M., & Sulistiyanto, P. (Eds.). Deepening Democracy in Indonesia?: Direct Elections for Local Leaders (Pilkada).” 5.

14 Jamie S. Davidson, “Violence and Politics in West Kalimantan, Indonesia” (University of Washington, 2002). 5.

15 Edward Aspinall, “Democratization and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Nine Theses,” Journal of East Asian Studies 11, no. 2 (2011): 289–319, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1598240800007190. 1.

16 Edward Aspinall, Sebastian Dettman, and Eve Warburton, “When Religion Trumps Ethnicity: A Regional Election Case Study from Indonesia,” South East Asia Research 19, no. 1 (2011): 27–58, https://doi.org/10.5367/sear.2011.0034. 1.

17 Ken Miichi, “The Role of Religion and Ethnicity in Jakarta's 2012 Gubernatorial Election,” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 33, no. 1 (2014): 55–83, https://doi.org/10.1177/186810341403300104. 3.

18 Merlyna Lim, “Freedom to Hate: Social Media, Algorithmic Enclaves, and the Rise of Tribal Nationalism in Indonesia,” Critical Asian Studies 49, no. 3 (2017): 411–27, https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2017.1341188. 5.

19 Putri Ariza Kristimanta and Mouliza Kristhopher Donna Sweinstani, “Politicization of Identity in Local Election As A Soft Security Threat: A Case of 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election,” Journal of Indonesian Social Sciences and Humanities 8, no. 2 (2018): 101–18, https://doi.org/10.14203/jissh.v8i2.134. 2.

20 David M. Bourchier, “Two Decades of Ideological Contestation in Indonesia: From Democratic Cosmopolitanism to Religious Nationalism,” Journal of Contemporary Asia 49, no. 5 (2019): 713–33, https://doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2019.1590620. 5.

21 Diego Fossati, “The Resurgence of Ideology in Indonesia: Political Islam, Flow and Political Behavior,” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 38, no. 2 (2019): 1–31, https://doi.org/10.1177/1868103419868400. 8.

22 Arizka Warganegara and Paul Waley, “The Political Legacies of Transmigration and the Dynamics of Ethnic Politics: A Case Study from Lampung, Indonesia,” Asian Ethnicity 23, no. 4 (2022): 676–96, https://doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2021.1889356. 5.

23 Donald L Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict (Berkeley: Univ of California Press, 2000).

24 James D. Fearon and David D. Laitin, “Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War,” American Journal of Public Health 97, no. 1 (2003): 75–90, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-012-9100-0.

25 Kanchan Chandra, Why Ethnic Parties Succeed: Patronage and Ethnic Head Counts in India (Cambridge University Press, 2004).

26 Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict; Fearon and Laitin, “Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War”; Chandra, Why Ethnic Parties Succeed: Patronage and Ethnic Head Counts in India.

27 Jack David Eller, “Ethnicity, Culture, and ‘The Past',” Michigan Quarterly Review 36, no. 4 (1997); Anthony D. Smith, “The Ethnic Origins of Nations,” 1986; Clifford Geertz, “The Integrative Revolution: Primordial Sentiments and Civil Politics in the New States.,” in Old Societies and New States: The Quest for Modernity in Asia and Africa, ed. Clifford Geertz (New York: Free Press., 1963), 105–57; Edward Shils, “Primordial, Personal, Sacred and Civil Ties: Some Particular Observations on the Relationships of Sociological Research and Theory,” The British Journal of Sociology 8, no. 2 (1957): 130–45; Harold R. Isaacs, “Basic Group Identity: The Idols of the Tribe,” in Ethnicity: Theory and Experience, ed. Glazers. Nathan and Daniel P. Moynihan (Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London: Harvard University Press, 1975); John Milton Yinger, Ethnicity: Source of Strength? Source of Conflict? (Sunny Press, 1994).

28 Kanchan Chandra, “Attributes and Categories: A New Conceptual Vocabulary for Thinking about Ethnic Identity,” in Constructivist Theories of Ethnic Politics (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 97–131.

29 Kanchan Chandra, "What Is Ethnic Identity and Does It Matter?," Annu. Rev. Polit. sci. 9 (2006): 397–424, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.9.062404.170715.

30 Rogers Brubaker and Frederick Cooper, “Beyond "Identity"," Theory and Society 29, no. 1 (2000): 1–47, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3108478 Accessed:

31 Steven Fenton, Ethnicity: Racism, Class, and Culture (Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and London: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1999), https://www.ptonline.com/articles/how-to-get-better-mfi -results.

32 Kompas, “Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah: Konflik Sampit Pecah,” https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2022/02/18/074211765/hari-ini-dalam-sejarah-konflik-sampit-pecah?page=all (accessed March 15, 2022).

33 ICG Asia Report, "Communal Violence in Indonesia: Lessons From Kalimantan," 2001, https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/communal-violence-indonesia-lessons-kalimantan (accessed June 15, 2017).

34 Down to Earth, “Dibalik Kerusuhan di Kalimantan Tengah,” https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/id/story/dibalik-kerusuhan-di-kalimantan-tengah (accessed June 17, 2017).

35 John Bamba, “Land, Rivers, and Forests: Dayak Solidarity and Ecological Resilience,” ed. Janis B. Alcorn and Antoinette G Royo, Indigenous Social Movements and Ecological Resilience: Lessons from the Dayak of Indonesia (Washington: Biodiversity Support Program, 2000).

36 Anne Casson, “Ethnic Violence in an Era of Regional Autonomy: A Background to the Bloodshed in Kotawaringin Timur,” Canberra: Australian National University Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Project, 2001. Gerry van Klinken, “Ethnic Fascism in Borneo - Inside Indonesia,” www.insideindonesia.org, 2007.

37 Anne Schiller and Bambang Garang, “Religion and Inter-Ethnic Violence in Indonesia,” Journal of Contemporary Asia 32, no. 2 (2002): 244–54, https://doi.org/10.1080/00472330280000151. 3.

38 Tania Murray Li, “Articulating Indigenous Identity in Indonesia: Resource Politics and the Tribal Slot,” Comparative Studies in Society and History 42, no. 1 (2000): 149–79, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0010417500002632. 2.

39 Tempo, “Kota Palangkaraya Masih Bergolak,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/23679/kota-palangkaraya-masih-bergolak/full&view=ok (accessed February 3, 2021).

40 Tempo, “Penyelesaian Sampit Dengan Rehabilitas Mental,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/25225/penyelesaian-sampit-dengan-rehabilitas-mental (accessed January 10, 2021).

41 Tempo, “Pemerintah Belum Serius Tangani Konflik Dayak-Madura,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/32051/pemerintah-belum-serius-tangani-konflik-dayak-madura/full&view=ok (accessed January 13, 2022).

42 Tanasaldy, "Ethnic Identity Politics in West Kalimantan."; Kristianus, “Politik dan Strategi Budaya Etnik Dalam Pilkada Serentak di Kalimantan Barat,” Politik Indonesia: Indonesia Political Science Review 1, no. 1 (2016): 87–101.

43 Subianto, Ethnic Politics and the Rise of the Dayak Bureaucrats in Local Election” In Erb, M., & Sulistiyanto, P. (Eds.). Deepening Democracy in Indonesia?: Direct Elections for Local Leaders (Pilkada).

44 JRA Sandi, “Perilaku Politik Lembaga Adat Dayak Dalam Aktualisasi Hak-Hak Masyarakat Adat Dayak Kalimantan Tengah (Kajian di Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Tengah)” (Universitas Merdeka Malang, 2016).

45 Anne Schiller, “Activism and Identities in an East Kalimantan Dayak Organization,” Journal of Asian Studies 66, no. 1 (2007): 63–95, https://doi.org/10.1017/S002191180700006X. 4.

46 Schiller.

47 Steven Lukes, Power: A Radical View (Macmillan International Higher Education, 2004).

48 Kusni Sulang, “Yang Dilupakan Para Kandidat Di Tanah Dayak,” https://jurnaltoddoppuli.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/yang-dilupakan-para-kandidat-di-tanah-dayak/ (accessed January 13, 2022).

49 Kompas, "Tamrin Amal Tomagola Minta Maaf," https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2011/01/11/03440642/tamrin.amal.tomagola.minta.maaf?source=autonext (accessed January 10, 2017).

50 Detik, “Protes Pernyataan Thamrin Tamagola, Warga Dayak Demo Di Bundaran HI,” https://news.detik.com/berita/d-1542246/protes-pernyataan-thamrin-tamagola-warga-dayak-demo-di-bundaran-hi (accessed January 10, 2017).

51 Tempo, “Warga Kalteng Protes Penyataan Thamrin Tomagola,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/304688/warga-kalteng-protes-penyataanthamrin-tomagola (accessed April 25, 2019).

52 Kompas, “Tamrin Amal Tamagola Jalani Sidang Adat,” https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2011/01/22/10025727/∼Regional∼Kalimantan (accessed August 10, 2017).

53 Tempo, “Majelis Adat Dayak Vonis Thamrin Amal Tomagola Bersalah,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/308179/majelis-adat-dayak-vonis-thamrin-amal-tomagola-bersalah (accessed August 10, 2017).

54 Tempo, “MUI Kalteng: Pembentukan FPI Palangka Raya Dibatalkan,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/383379/mui-kalteng-pembentukan-fpi-palangkaraya-dibatalkan (accessed September 10, 2020).

55 Tempo, “Kronologi Penolakan FPI Kalimantan Tengah,”https://nasional.tempo.co/read/383860/kronologi-penolakan-fpi-kalimantan-tengah/full&view=ok (accessed November 5, 2021).

56 Kusni Sulang, “Pumpung Hai, Bukan Omong Hai,” https://jurnaltoddoppuli.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/pumpung-hai-bukan-omong-hai/ (accessed December 7, 2015).

57 Kaltengpos, “Pumpung Hai Perkokoh Eksistensi Dayak,” https://kalteng.prokal.co/read/news/11843-pumpung-hai-perkokoh-eksistensi-dayak (accessed August 15, 2021).

58 Kaltengpos, “Dayak Misik Pasang Patok,” https://kalteng.prokal.co/read/news/18790-dayak-misik-pasang-patok (accessed December 2, 2017).

59 Kaltengpos, “Dayak Misik Perlu Dikoordinasikan,” https://kalteng.prokal.co/read/news/18913-dayak-misik-perlu-dikoordinasikan (accessed December 2, 2017).

60 Kaltengpos, “Dayak Misik Jadi Alat Politik?,” https://kalteng.prokal.co/read/news/20350-dayak-misik-jadi-alat-politik (accessed December 2, 2017).

61 Kusni Sulang, “Meradikalkan Dayak Dengan ‘Angin Sorga,’” https://jurnaltoddoppuli.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/meradikalkan-dayak-dengan-angin-sorga/ (accessed December 7, 2015).

62 Kristina Großmann, “‘Dayak, Wake up’: Land, Indigeneity, and Conflicting Ecologies in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia,” Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde 175, no. 1 (2019): 1–28, https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-17501021. 2.

63 JRA Sandi, “Perilaku Politik Lembaga Adat Dayak dalam Aktualisasi Hak-Hak Masyarakat Adat Dayak Kalimantan Tengah (Kajian Di Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Tengah).”

64 Allen Hicken, “Clientelism,” Annual Review of Political Science 14 (2011): 289–310. 2.

65 David Henley and Jamie S. Davidson, “In the Name of Adat: Regional Perspectives on Reform, Tradition, and Democracy in Indonesia,” Modern Asian Studies 42, no. 4 (2008): 815–52, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X07003083. 10.

66 Tribunnews, “Kakak Kandung Gubernur Terpilih Sebagai Ketua DAD Kalteng,” https://banjarmasin.tribunnews.com/2016/09/10/kakak-kandung-gubernur-terpilih-sebagai-ketua-dad-kalteng (accessed October 12, 2018).

67 Borneonews, “Agustiar Sabran Terpilih Jadi Ketua Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Tengah,” https://www.borneonews.co.id/berita/40181-agustiar-sabran-terpilih-jadi-ketua-dewan-adat-dayak-kalimantan-tengah (accessed October 12, 2018).

68 Borneonews, “Ini Makna Gelar Adat Dari DAD Untuk Gubernur Kalteng,” https://www.borneonews.co.id/berita/64427-ini-makna-gelar-adat-dari-dad-untuk-gubernur-kalteng (accessed October 12, 2018).

69 Kompas, “Jokowi Dianugerahi Gelar Raja Dayak,” https://regional.kompas.com/read/2016/12/20/14160031/jokowi.dianugerahi.gelar.raja.dayak (accessed October 22, 2018).

70 Tempo, “Jusuf Kalla Terima Gelar Kehormatan Raja Dayak, Simbol Tokoh Panutan,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/870076/jusuf-kalla-terima-gelar-kehormatan-raja-dayak-simbol-tokoh-panutan/full&view=ok (accessed October 22, 2018).

71 Tempo, “Agus Marto Digelari ‘Mantir Hai Panambahan’ Dari Warga Dayak,” https://nasional.tempo.co/read/836902/agus-marto-digelari-mantir-hai-panambahan-dari-warga-dayak (accessed October 22, 2018).

72 Jatimnow, “Kapolri dan Panglima TNI akan dianugerahi Gelar Adat Dayak,” https://jatimnow.com/baca-2119-kapolri-dan-panglima-tni-akan-dianugerahi-gelar-adat-dayak (accessed October 22, 2018).

73 Kisno Hadi, “The Source of Power of the Dayak Ma’anyan Tribes’ Political Thought and Its Influence on the Elites,” Masyarakat, Kebudayaan Dan Politik 32, no. 3 (2019): 251, https://doi.org/10.20473/mkp.v32i32019.251-261. 9.

74 Borneonews, “Aksi Umat Islam Kalteng Batal Digelar Siang Ini”, https://www.borneonews.co.id/berita/64762-aksi-umat-islam-kalteng-batal-digelar-siang-ini (accessed August 3, 2021).

75 Borneonews, “Demo Umat Islam Kalteng Dipindah Ke Masjid Aqidah,” https://www.borneonews.co.id/berita/64767-demo-umat-islam-kalteng-dipindah-ke-masjid-aqidah (accessed August 3, 2021).

76 See note 15 above. 12.

77 UPR Jaya Raya, “Intelektual Dayak Kini Miliki Wadah Menyampaikan Aspirasi”, https://uprjayaraya.com/kalimantan-tengah/intelektual-dayak-kini-miliki-wadah-menyampaikan-aspirasi/ (accessed April 12, 2022).

78 Kaltimprov, “Gubernur Tutup Munas I dan Melantik Pengurus ICDN,” https://www.kaltimprov.go.id/kategori/kegiatan-silaturahmi (accessed April 12, 2022).

79 Tribunnews, “Cendikiawan Dayak Se Kalimantan Bentuk Organisasi, Terungkap Tujuan Utamanya,” https://banjarmasin.tribunnews.com/2019/01/20/cendikiawan-dayak-se-kalimantan-bentuk-organisasi-terungkap-tujuan-utamanya (accessed April 12, 2022).

80 Antaranews, “Forum Intelektual Dayak Nasional Usulkan Ada Menteri Dari Suku Dayak,” https://sumbar.antaranews.com/berita/286494/forum-intelektual-dayak-nasional-usulkan-ada-menteri-dari-suku-dayak (accessed April 12, 2022).

81 Amazon Dalimunthe, “Forum Intelektual Dayak Nasional Seminarkan Soal Pemindahan Ibukota Negara Ke Kalimantan,” https://www.industry.co.id/read/54583/forum-intelektual-dayak-nasional-seminarkan-soal-pemindahan-ibukota-negara-ke-kalimantan (accessed April 12, 2022).

82 Kompas, “Alue Dohong, Masyarakat Dayak Pertama Yang Jadi Wakil Menteri,” https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2019/10/25/180020365/alue-dohong-masyarakat-dayak-pertama-yang-jadi-wakil-menteri (accessed April 12, 2022).

83 Edward Aspinall and Muhammad Uhaib As'ad, “Understanding Family Politics: Successes and Failures of Political Dynasties in Regional Indonesia,” Southeast Asia Research 24, no. 3 (2016): 420–35, https://doi.org/10.1177/0967828X16659571. 5.

84 Dominika Koter, “King Makers: Local Leaders and Ethnic Politics in Africa,” World Politics 65, no. 2 (2013): 187–232, https://doi.org/10.1017/S004388711300004X; Philip Roessler, “Ethnic Politics in Africa-Beyond Ethnic Politics in Africa. By Dominika Koter. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016.,” The Journal of African History 60, no. 3 (2019): 506–9, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021853719000938.

85 Kontan, “Saat Masyarakat Adat Dayak Resmi Memberikan Dukungan Pembangunan IKN Nusantara,” https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/saat-masyarakat-adat-dayak-resmi-memberikan-dukungan-pembangunan-ikn-nusantara. (accessed April 12, 2022).

86 Palangkanews, “Hadirnya IKN, Peluang Pekerjaan Semakin Banyak,” https://palangkanews.co.id/hadirnya-ikn-peluang-pekerjaan-semakin-banyak/; Budi Susilo, “IKN Nusantara Tingkatkan Kualitas Hidup Masyarakat Dayak di Hulu Mahakam Kukar,” https://kaltim.tribunnews.com/2023/03/11/ikn-nusantara-tingkatkan-kualitas-hidup-masyarakat-dayak-di-hulu-mahakam-kukar?page=2. (accessed April 12, 2022).

87 Media Dayak, “Proyek IKN Nusantara Memberi Dampak Positif Bagi Masyarakat,” https://mediadayak.id/proyek-ikn-nusantara-memberikan-dampak-positif-bagi-masyarakat/.

88 Dini Loviana, “Dampak Yang Mungkin Akan Dirasakan Suku Dayak Dari Pembangunan IKN,” https://jurnalpost.com/dampak-yang-mungkin-akan-dirasakan-suku-dayak-dari-pembangunan-ikn/43076/;Nurhadi (accessed April 12, 2022).

89 Sigit Kurniawan, “IKN Nusantara Diyakini Tingkatkan Kualitas Hidup Masyarakat,” https://elshinta.com/news/296072/2023/03/11/ikn-nusantara-diyakini-tingkatkan-kualitas-hidup-masyarakat. (accessed April 12, 2022).

90 Charlotte Reinnoldt, “Asserting Indigenous Identity to Substantiate Customary Forest Claims: A Case Study of the Dayaks of West Kalimantan, Indonesia” (Claremont McKenna College, 2019).

91 Aspinall, “Democratization and Ethnic Politics in Indonesia: Nine Theses.”