Selfish,obscenelyrich,insular,andopportunistic:theseremainhowChineseminoritiesinIndonesiaareperceivedbytheindigenouspopulation.However,farfrombeingpassivevictimsofdiscriminationandmarginalisation,ChongpresentsaforcefulcaseinwhichChineseIndonesianspossesstheagencytoshapetheirfutureinthecountry,particularlyinthechangingpolitical,business,andsocio-culturalenvironmentafterthefallofSuharto.WhilealackofgoodgovernancethatpromotestheruleoflawandaccountabilityallowsorevenencouragessomeChinesetomaintainthestatusquobyperpetuatingcorruptbusinesspracticesinheritedfromSuharto’sNewOrderregime,thereareotherChineseIndonesianswhomakefulluseofthedemocraticspaceopenedupunderthenewadministrations,actingasagentsofreformbyparticipatinginelectoralpoliticsandestablishinginter-ethnicsocio-culturalorganisations.BuildingonAnthonyGiddens’sstructure-agencytheoryandPierreBourdieu’snotionsofhabitusandfield,ChongshowsthattheChineseminoritieshaveplayedanactiveroleinthedemocraticprocess,eventhoughtheycontinuetooccupyanambivalentpositioninIndonesia.TheChineseIndonesians’diversestrategiestosafeguardtheirpersonalinterestsandculturalidentitiesmakeastimulatingcasestudyofwhatanethnicminoritycoulddotomakeadifference.
business INDONESIA CHINESE POST
