Seeking common ground: Coffee shops as information grounds in the context of conflict

Abstract

Using coffee shops as information grounds in the context of Christians and Muslim violent conflicts in Indonesia, this paper explores and explicates the emergence of information grounds in the context of conflicts. In a polarized society, coffee shops are constructed as a venue for social reliefs and rituals. They function as social magnets, attracting conflicting actors to put off their differences in lieu of community building. As information grounds, coffee shops allow human actors to cultivate trust and develop networked individuals. Individuals’ capabilities are connected within the communitarian spectrum. Diverse information is shared and exchanged but searching for a common ground is the main goal. As information grounds, the coffee shops reported in this paper are spaces where social capital flourish and increase in value with greater levels of trust. Through the discussion, we posit information grounds as spaces for conflict transformation.