Abstract
This study investigates identity transnationalism and nationalism along the Indonesia-Malaysia border in West Kalimantan. Residents with familial ties in both nations face challenges in maintaining their cultural, artistic, and tribal identities across national lines. Despite their common ancestry, these individuals remain politically divided but culturally unified. Our research explores how transnational communities manage their complex sense of self and examines the role of culture and the arts in preserving community unity amidst national diversity. This study addresses a gap in the academic literature by focusing on transnationalism's cultural and artistic dimensions in border regions, a seldom-explored topic. Using critical ethnography, data were gathered through documentation analysis, in-depth interviews, and participant observation with Dayak Bidayuh Jagoi community informants. Informants were chosen based on their familial ties in both Indonesia and Malaysia, representing culturally intertwined yet politically distinct communities. The research shows that transnational communities at the frontier use diverse strategies to preserve and express their cultural identity, despite political constraints. Cultural and artistic festivals are crucial for fostering community cohesion and identity, helping overcome territorial limitations. The findings significantly contribute to understanding the coexistence of transnational and national identities and the potential of arts and culture to strengthen community bonds despite political fragmentation. Emphasis is placed on supporting cultural programs that help communities preserve their identity and adopting a more inclusive and sensitive policy approach to the dynamics of transnationalism in border regions.
Author Information
Jagad Aditya Dewantara, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
Dasim Budimansyah, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
Kokom Komalasari, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
Cecep Darmawan, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
Nuri Annisa, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia
Paper Information
Conference: BAMC2024
Stream: Ethnicity
This paper is part of the BAMC2024 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Dewantara J., Budimansyah D., Komalasari K., Darmawan C., & Annisa N. (2025) Ethnography of Nationalism on the Indonesia-Malaysia Border: Dynamics of Transnational Identity in the Study of Culture, Art, and Citizenship ISSN: 2435-9475 – The Barcelona Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2024: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 59-66) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2024.7
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2024.7
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