본 연구는 종족집단, 종족관계, 종족갈등에 관한 정부정책을 분석함으로써 종족갈등에 대한 포괄적인 이해와 정책적 해결방안을 모색했다. 인도네시아는 300여 종족으로 구성된 다종족국가로 문화적, 지역적, 종교적인 균열 상황에 놓여 있다. 인구의 다수를 차지하고 있는 자바족의 정치적 우위는 타종족과의 심각한 대립과 갈등을 초래했다. 과거 권위주의 정권하에서 억제되어 있던 종족 간 정치적, 경제적, 사회적 격차에 따른 갈등은 민주화 이후 강력하게 표출되고 있다. 이러한 점을 고려해서 본 연구에서는 다음과 같은 세 가지 측면에 주목했다. 첫째, 본 연구는 종족문제에 대한 정부정책의 전개과정을 고찰하고 주요정책의 특징, 정책변화의 배경과 원인, 종족갈등에 미친 영향 등을 분석했다. 둘째, 본 연구는 어떠한 정부정책이 가장 효율적이었으며 종족갈등이 어떠한 과정과 방식을 통해 관리되었는가를 분석했다. 셋째, 정부의 종족갈등관리정책의 문제점과 한계는 무엇이고 이에 대한 정치사회적 영향은 어떠한 것이었는가를 분석하여 정책대안을 제시했다.
Indonesia is one of the world’s great multi-ethnic countries. With a total population of around 250 million, at the census more than 300 separate ethnic groups were listed. For several decades, Indonesia has afflicted by serious ethnic conflict. After the breakdown of New Order regime, there were serious ethnic conflicts in Maluku and Sumatra as well as communal violence associated with ethnonationalist mobilization in Aceh and Papua. Decentralization and massive reform were initiated by the new regime immediately after the fall of Soeharto. This context is the setting in which ethnic politics is emerging. The possibility of the transition from ethnic conflict to ethnic peace lies in the set of political institutions designed by Indonesia’s government. As one important decision,Decentralization has the effect of declining ethnic conflict and forming national identity. Government policy like this can stress commitment to diversity in unity.
Indonesia is one of the world’s great multi-ethnic countries. With a total population of around 250 million, at the census more than 300 separate ethnic groups were listed. For several decades, Indonesia has afflicted by serious ethnic conflict. After the breakdown of New Order regime, there were serious ethnic conflicts in Maluku and Sumatra as well as communal violence associated with ethnonationalist mobilization in Aceh and Papua. Decentralization and massive reform were initiated by the new regime immediately after the fall of Soeharto. This context is the setting in which ethnic politics is emerging. The possibility of the transition from ethnic conflict to ethnic peace lies in the set of political institutions designed by Indonesia’s government. As one important decision,Decentralization has the effect of declining ethnic conflict and forming national identity. Government policy like this can stress commitment to diversity in unity.
