Chang-Yau Hoon - Böcker

The Chinese in Indonesia form a significant minority of about three percent of the population, and have played a disproportionately important role in the country. Given that Chinese Indonesians are not seen as indigenous to the country and are consistently defined against Indonesian nationalism, most studies on the community concentrate on examining their ambivalent position as Indonesia's perennial "internal outsider." Chinese Indonesians Reassessed argues for the need to dislodge this narrow nationalistic approach and adopt fresh perspectives which acknowledge the full complexity of ethnic relations within the country. The focus of the book extends beyond Java to explore the historical development of Chinese Indonesian communities in more peripheral areas of Indonesia, such as Medan, the Riau Islands and West Kalimantan. It reveals the diverse religious practices of Chinese Indonesians, which are by no means confined to "Chinese" religions, and celebration of "Chinese" ethnic events. Presenting a rich array of historical and contemporary case studies, the book goes beyond national stereotypes to demonstrate how Chinese Indonesians interact with different spaces and environments to establish new Chinese Indonesian identities which are complex and multi-faceted. The book engages with a larger global literature concerned with diasporic Chinese identities and practices and offers sophisticated and empirically grounded insights on the commodification of ethnic cultures and religions.

The Chinese in Indonesia form a significant minority of about three percent of the population, and have played a disproportionately important role in the country. Given that Chinese Indonesians are not seen as indigenous to the country and are consistently defined against Indonesian nationalism, most studies on the community concentrate on examining their ambivalent position as Indonesia's perennial "internal outsider." Chinese Indonesians Reassessed argues for the need to dislodge this narrow nationalistic approach and adopt fresh perspectives which acknowledge the full complexity of ethnic relations within the country. The focus of the book extends beyond Java to explore the historical development of Chinese Indonesian communities in more peripheral areas of Indonesia, such as Medan, the Riau Islands and West Kalimantan. It reveals the diverse religious practices of Chinese Indonesians, which are by no means confined to "Chinese" religions, and celebration of "Chinese" ethnic events. Presenting a rich array of historical and contemporary case studies, the book goes beyond national stereotypes to demonstrate how Chinese Indonesians interact with different spaces and environments to establish new Chinese Indonesian identities which are complex and multi-faceted. The book engages with a larger global literature concerned with diasporic Chinese identities and practices and offers sophisticated and empirically grounded insights on the commodification of ethnic cultures and religions.

The field of religions of Indonesia is dominated by the sheer size of the population of Muslims, which represent 87 percent of the Indonesian population. Christians form the second largest religious group and represent the largest concentration of members of minority ethnic groups with 7 percent represented by Protestants, 3 percent by Catholics. Christianity in Indonesia is an understudied topic; comprehensive works on the topic were published over a decade ago and despite the growing importance of Christianity as a minority religion in the country, there has been little published work in English on the subject in the last decade. If Christianity in Indonesia has not been sufficiently considered, works published in English on Christianity among the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia are even scarcer, notwithstanding the fact that almost half of the Chinese minority are either Protestant or Catholic. This volume fills a scholarly gap by addressing three aspects of Christianity in urban Indonesia: ethnicity (focusing on the ethnic Chinese), education (on private Christian schools) and enterprise (on the capital and class featured in charismatic/ Pentecostal churches). The author addresses issues of state-religion relations and state policy on religion; contested religious space; elite Chinese philanthropy; evangelism and multiculturalism; citizenship education; and Christian faith aspirations. The thirteen essays, which include material previously published in journals, narrate the social reality of urban Christians in contemporary Indonesia, and is essential reading for Asian Studies scholars.

As part of “China’s south,” Southeast Asia has historically assumed a peripheral position when juxtaposed against the power of the Chinese state. In the existing scholarly literature, the power asymmetry is reflected in the ostensible bias where most studies are about China’s presence in or engagement with Southeast Asia rather than the reverse; studies on the presence or influence of Southeast Asia in China have been a marginal enterprise. The present volume aims to fill this void by exploring the historical entanglements and contemporary engagements of Southeast Asia(ns) in China through a Southeast Asian perspective. As China seeks to understand Southeast Asia’s presence in the country on its own terms, it is also engaged in a process of self-discovery and defining where and how it should stand in relation to the region. Departing from the discourse of China as the a priori center dominating the scholarship on China–Southeast Asia relations, the present volume hopes to subvert such power relations in order to bring fresh perspectives on the historical and contemporary contributions of Southeast Asia(ns) in China.

As part of “China’s south,” Southeast Asia has historically assumed a peripheral position when juxtaposed against the power of the Chinese state. In the existing scholarly literature, the power asymmetry is reflected in the ostensible bias where most studies are about China’s presence in or engagement with Southeast Asia rather than the reverse; studies on the presence or influence of Southeast Asia in China have been a marginal enterprise. The present volume aims to fill this void by exploring the historical entanglements and contemporary engagements of Southeast Asia(ns) in China through a Southeast Asian perspective. As China seeks to understand Southeast Asia’s presence in the country on its own terms, it is also engaged in a process of self-discovery and defining where and how it should stand in relation to the region. Departing from the discourse of China as the a priori center dominating the scholarship on China–Southeast Asia relations, the present volume hopes to subvert such power relations in order to bring fresh perspectives on the historical and contemporary contributions of Southeast Asia(ns) in China.

During Suharto's New Order (1966-1998), the ethnic Chinese expanded Indonesia's economy (and their own wealth) but, paradoxically, were marginalized and discriminated against in all social spheres - culture, language, politics, entrance to state-owned universities, and public service and public employment. Following the fall of Suharto, and the anti-Chinese riots in May 1998, Indonesia underwent a process of "Reformasi" and democratization, whereby for the first time in several decades Chinese culture became more visible. Many ethnic Chinese took advantage of the new democratic space to establish political parties, non-governmental organizations, and action groups in order to fight for the abolition of discriminatory laws, to defend their rights, and to promote solidarity between ethnic groups in Indonesia. They utilized the Reformasi atmosphere to promote pluralism and multiculturalism, and to liberate their long-suppressed identity and cultural heritage. This book dissects the complex meanings of "Chineseness" in post-1998 Indonesia, including the ways in which the policy of multiculturalism enabled such a resurgence, the forces that shaped it, and the possibilities for resinicisation. The author examines the ethnic Chinese self-identify, and investigates how the pribumi "Other" has contributed to identifying the ethnic boundary in terms of race and class. A unique aspect of the study is its discussion of the complexities of the cultural crossing, borrowing, and mixing experience of Chinese-Indonesians through localization and globalization.

During Suharto's New Order (1966-1998), the ethnic Chinese expanded Indonesia's economy (and their own wealth) but, paradoxically, were marginalized and discriminated against in all social spheres - culture, language, politics, entrance to state-owned universities, and public service and public employment. Following the fall of Suharto, and the anti-Chinese riots in May 1998, Indonesia underwent a process of "Reformasi" and democratization, whereby for the first time in several decades Chinese culture became more visible. Many ethnic Chinese took advantage of the new democratic space to establish political parties, non-governmental organizations, and action groups in order to fight for the abolition of discriminatory laws, to defend their rights, and to promote solidarity between ethnic groups in Indonesia. They utilized the Reformasi atmosphere to promote pluralism and multiculturalism, and to liberate their long-suppressed identity and cultural heritage. This book dissects the complex meanings of "Chineseness" in post-1998 Indonesia, including the ways in which the policy of multiculturalism enabled such a resurgence, the forces that shaped it, and the possibilities for resinicisation. The author examines the ethnic Chinese self-identify, and investigates how the pribumi "Other" has contributed to identifying the ethnic boundary in terms of race and class. A unique aspect of the study is its discussion of the complexities of the cultural crossing, borrowing, and mixing experience of Chinese-Indonesians through localization and globalization.

Combining a historical approach of Chineseness and a contemporary perspective on the social construction of Chineseness, this book provides comparative insights to understand the contingent complexities of ethnic and social formations in both China and among the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.

Combining a historical approach of Chineseness and a contemporary perspective on the social construction of Chineseness, this book provides comparative insights to understand the contingent complexities of ethnic and social formations in both China and among the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.