Ethnographic Study of Post-Reformation Assimilation of Tionghoa Settler to Indonesian Natives in Indonesia

Abstract

Tionghoa ethnic was formerly considered as foreigners who came from Tiongkok mainland to find a new place to live. Later, the group was known as Tionghoa foreign settler who live and breeds in Nusantara and called as Indonesian Tionghoa people group. In everyday practice, Tionghoa community is inseparable from the interaction with the natives people. And further, assimilates with the local community in all aspects of life. This study uses ethnography qualitative approach to observe assimilation process and mixing that occur in Tionghoa people with natives people. The data used in this study came from interviews with 11 informants.This study concludes that Tionghoa ethnic assimilates in several aspects with 2 methods: (1) partial assimilation, (2) total assimilation. This study also found that Tionghoa people have low national integrity because they are only oriented to the trade sectore alone. To build Tionghoa ethnic's integrity for natives people, it is advised that Tionghoa ethnic do total assimilation, not just in business and trading sector. Tionghoa ethnic has to enter every aspect of life, such as politics and goverment.