DOI: 10.25549/usctheses-c3-198050
title: Civic associations, local governance and conflict prevention in Indonesia

description: With growing interest in governance, this research explored local governance structures that contribute to the prevention of social conflict in the case of ethnic violence in Indonesia. To examine how local governance affects ethnic relations and peace building, I studied the relationships between civic associations and conflict/peace and interactions between civic associations and governance at the local level. The research also investigated the effects of institutional changes, i.e., decentralization and pemekaran, on peace building and the roles of the state in conflict prevention. This was a multiple case study to compare a conflict-prone district and a peaceful district in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. A mixed methods approach, consisting of in-depth interviews and a household survey, was used in this research. Research data of approximately 170 interviews and 675 samples of the household survey were collected and analyzed. ❧ To explain the regional variance of ethnic violence within a state, scholars recently centered their attention on the micro level analysis of ethnic conflict with a focus on which types of civic associations contribute to peace. One theory argued that civic associations across ethnic boundaries can prevent conflict by building trust and networks between them while the other theory addressed in-group policing of ethnic organizations, in which each ethnic group punishes those members who endanger inter-ethnic peace by committing wrongs against other groups’ members. Yet, civic associations are not independent from local contexts and political institutions. For violence prevention, good governance, involving the government and civil society, is necessary to settle contrasting interests and to accommodate various needs by establishing rules and democratic norms. ❧ The analysis of interviews and household survey data showed that certain types of civic associations work for peace; however, political institutions limit the extent associations facilitate ethnic peace. In the regression results, the contribution of inter-ethnic associations for ethnic peace was supported, though equal representation of ethnic groups in local legislatures made a difference in efficacy of inter-ethnic associations and local ethnic relationships. While the analysis of the case study revealed cooperation among ethnic organizations as building blocks to prevent expansion of violence, the role of local government appeared crucial to facilitate ethnic cooperation to prevent conflict. ❧ Decentralization provided opportunities for local societies to build local governance structures appropriate to their specific circumstances for conflict prevention. In ethnically homogenous districts, the ethnic relationships were stabilized under the power of the majority groups by eliminating inter-ethnic competition for power and resources. Moreover, creating homogenous districts and providing autonomy contributed to mitigation of grievances of the marginalized group. On the other hand, the pemekaran to establish an ethnically mixed city shifted interests of ethnic groups and provided incentives for ethnic cooperation and peace in political and civil societies by implementing direct elections. As a result, a unique ethnic balance emerged among the ethnic groups. Based on the existing political and civil societies, local communities developed unique governance structures, which may contribute to ethnic violence prevention in the era of decentralization. ❧ Thus, local governance affected the nature of the civil society, more cooperative or competitive, and hence ethnic peace. In spite of positive notions of civic associations, this research result called attention to unconditional endorsement for civic associations and illuminated the need for more research to study local governance that influences the nature of civil society. These interactions in local governance explained regional variances of ethnic conflict or peace within a state.