CHINESE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND PSEUDO-MULTICULTURALISM IN WEST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

Abstract

This research aims to explore the situation of pluralism in West Kalimantan, a paradoxical place in Indonesia. For social researchers, this situation is unique because on the one hand West Kalimantan is known as a conflict-prone area in Indonesia, and on the other hand, part of its territory, namely the Singkawang area, is actually called the most tolerant area. Previous researchers assumed that this situation was false, because conflicts between religious and ethnic groups still occur frequently. However, there is a side that has not been explored, related to communication strategies or precisely the way of interacting shown by ethnic groups in this area. The role of the Chinese Muslim group is actually significant in bringing about harmonisation between the polarised groups. Chinese Muslims have provided a link that is socially very instrumental in deconstructing the strengthening of ethnic and religious group identities. Although they seem to form their own identity, two sides of that identity are related to religious groups and ethnic groups, which is very useful to make them "the same" or at least look somewhat the same as the main groups here. In fact, their presence balances the groups. In conclusion, theoretically, the presence of the Chinese Muslim community in West Kalimantan breaks the ice of identity and becomes a bridge of communication between communities.