Coexistence Space as A Manifestation of Symbiotic Space in Multi-Ethnic Villages
Anityas Dian Susanti1*, Bakti Setiawan2, Dyah Titisari Widyastuti3
1Doctoral Student, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
2Professor, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
3Doctor, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
*Correspondence
Abstract: – This paper explains the views of multiethnic people who live side by side in peace or co-existence. In this view, it is appropriate for them to live peacefully without conflict. Many social problems in a multi-ethnic society, among others, occur in Indonesia which is a multi-ethnic country with many tribes and nations where there are many differences and inter-ethnic problems that occur, but Indonesia is also a country with a high level of solidarity so as to minimize the consequences. The topic discussed was about a multi-ethnic society, namely Javanese, Chinese, and Koja ethnics.. They lived in one area, in it there are several urban villages, namely Bustaman Village, Pekojan Village, Tay Kak Sie Temple Area, Jami’ Pekojan Mosque Area, and several villages around. The activities of the multiethnic community in the village of Purwodinatan are socio-cultural, religious and trade activities. The issues raised are how they can live side by side without conflict and the spatial form of the adjoining villages. This paper aims to describe the perspective of multiethnic society in the use of shared space. Several forms of space used by multiethnic communities in Semarang, Indonesia, will be found with the grounded method which is based on inductive research. This study finds the patterns of use of co-existence space carried out by multi-ethnic communities in Semarang, namely socio-cultural, economic and religious, which are their views in everyday life.
Keywords : multiethnic; ethnics; village, coexsistence, interaction
I. Introduction
All countries today are countries with multiethnic populations. According to research, only 9% of all countries have homogeneous populations (Cohen, 1994), including Indonesia, where most of the population is multiethnic. All over the world, issues of multiethnic society are found, for example, in England, where many racial issues have attacked Muslims in England after September 11. Generally, multiethnic people in England live in poor and isolated areas. Many social problems in a multiethnic society include conflicts and tensions caused by differences in character and religious and cultural sentiments. Indonesia is a multiethnic country with many tribes and nations where many differences and inter-ethnic problems occur. However, Indonesia is also a country with a high level of solidarity to minimize the destructive consequences of the problems. In its history, Indonesia has had a milestone relationship of inter-ethnic tolerance. There has been cooperation between the indigenous population and the Chinese community in expelling the Dutch from their homeland. The event was known as the “Geger Pecinan” in 1740. This incident has been a bond of tolerance between ethnic groups in a country later referred to as the state of Indonesia since independence on August 17, 1945. With the development of cities in Indonesia with multiethnic residents, almost all cities in Indonesia consist of various ethnicities and different ethnic groups. One of the cities with a multiethnic population and has a reasonably good interaction relationship is the city of Semarang.
A city is known as part of the social area, social ties and interactions between city residents and human entities and their environment, and the extent to which these interactions form social spaces (Jabareen & Eizenberg, 2020). The urban village is a place to live for some of the city’s residents have a preserved rural character. Social ties between residents in urban villages still prioritize tolerance and cooperation (helping each other) and can be seen in large-scale cultural and religious activities. Urban space formation is heavy influence by urban villages, especially multiethnic villages that have been going on for a long time, with a coastal city with a diverse ethnic population (multiethnic). The city of Semarang has a long history of informing its multiethnic village. Semarang, located in the coastal area, developed into a trading city since the Mataram Kingdom, has developed into a port city with trade routes from outside the country to the island of Java. The city of Semarang is an example of a multicultural city typology, forming a heterogeneous structure and experiencing cultural acculturation. Cities located by the sea or the coast in particular (north coast of Java Island), one of which is the city of Semarang, has a typology of old cities in Indonesia that grew into large (modern) cities. This growth proves the phenomenon of ethnic settlements essential in developing Indonesia’s areas, cities,