COLONIAL POLITICS IN FORMING ETHNIC IDENTITY OF MELAYU MINANGKABAU AND BATAK IN TAPANULI
Abstract: The article
discusses the forming of ethnic identity among Batak and Malay people in
Tapanuli during colonial period. The colonial government that desired to expand
its hegemony among these ethnic groups had led them to create policies and
boundaries for the groups in Tapanuli. This study uses historical method
(heuristic) that begins from sources collection, sources
critique,interpretation and explanation. Constructive approach is used to
analyze the sources that considers ethnic identity is a result of construction
process of a particular group. This article shows that in pre-colonial period
it was difficult to determine ethnical boundaries in Tapanuli, particularly the
Malay, Minangkabau, and Batak. However, after the Dutch government expanded its
expansion to this region, the ethnical boundaries began to form and the
differences among them became apparent. Ethnic segregation policy implemented
by the Dutch and its support to the Batak ethnic group and the Christian
obviously had formed and changed the awareness of ethnic identity among Batak
and Malay people. In the early 20th century, the colonial government featured
and strengthened the ethnic identity awareness in Batak community.
Author: Ida Liana Tanjung,
Bambang Purwanto, Nur Aini Setyawati
Journal Code: jpantropologigg160015
