Diverse we stand: Horizontal inequality and ethno-communal conflict in Indonesia
Bart Kleine Deters & Zina Nimeh
#2014-091
This paper aims to shed some light on the drivers of (relatively)
small-scale ethno-communal violence within an ethnically diverse state,
by quantitatively examining the relationship between horizontal
inequalities and ethno-communal violence. Specifically it addresses the
complexity in assessing the effect of Horizontal Inequality on
ethno-communal conflict in Indonesia. The paper examines the case of
Indonesia around the time of the downfall of the New Order regime and
the first years of the reformasi (roughly 1997-2003). Different HI
indicators are constructed and a pooled time series cross-sectional
probit regression is utilised, using deadly ethno-communal violence as a
binary (dummy) dependent variable. The research measures HI indicators
across five dimensions (health, employment, education, housing and
network connectivity), which are further subdivided into access and
achievement variables.
Results show that while horizontal inequalities can be considered a
determinant for ethno-communal conflict, there are marked differences in
the society for different groups, in this case linguistic versus
religious groups. Preliminary results show that a common basis is formed
by horizontal inequalities in malnutrition and water source. A main
driver of the ethno-religious estimations has been adult educational
attainment, pointing out to a narrative where schooling - and the career
chances that come with it - is something for the privileged groups,
leading to frustration among the disadvantaged.
This study adds to the existing literature on horizontal inequalities
and conflict by building on previous studies and looking further at a
broad range of horizontal inequality indicators within the diverse
context of Indonesia. We reflect on the notion that there is not a
single dimension with a clearly stronger explanatory strength than
another. Rather, it is the combination of different facets of horizontal
inequality that enables us to uncover the variation in the data.
Keywords: Horizontal inequality, ethno-communal conflict, human
security, Indonesia
JEL Classification: D63