ABSTRACT
The perceived boundaries and composition of ethnic identity in Indonesia are continuously reconstructed in response to the political policies and structure of power. The political systems throughout the past century in Indonesia have maintained perceptions of difference between specific ethnic groups and contributed to existing ethnic tensions. The political policies served the governing authority by strengthening a sense of allegiance and unity through marginalising specific ethnic groups. The Dutch administrative system established the framework for continued ethnic segregation between the foreign ethnic groups and the underprivileged indigenous ethnic groups. These policies were maintained in the new nation of Indonesia. The national motto of Indonesia, Unity in Diversity, allowed the national government to unify indigenous ethnic groups, and segregate the foreign ethnic groups, specifically the Chinese.
