Uniting diverse groups is a foundational principle for many nation-states, yet achieving this unity is complex. Public policies aimed at promoting a shared national identity and mitigating ethnic, religious, and class divisions play a critical role in fostering social cohesion and building strong, effective states conducive to economic growth and development. However, top-down nation-building efforts often encounter resistance and alternative responses from the grassroots level. This dynamic struggle between strong states and resilient societies shapes the character of the nation and determines the pathway to successful nation-building.
In this lecture Professor Samuel Bazzi (University of California San Diego) provides a novel perspective on the nation-building process, drawing lessons from Indonesia’s remarkable experience. Based on a series of recent studies, Professor Bazzi offers insights into the historical and contemporary challenges of forging a diverse nation. The lecture will explore four major policy episodes that illustrate (i) how intergroup contact affects national identity and integration, (ii) how political boundaries shape ethnic divisions and conflict, (iii) how mitigating class divisions can exacerbate other, identity cleavages, and (iv) how religious forces influence the outcome of secular mass schooling reforms. Together, these cases underscore the promise and pitfalls of nation-building efforts in diverse societies, offering guidance for future research and policymaking to support these endeavors in Indonesia and beyond.
Tuesday, 6 August 2024 at 08.30-13.00 WIB
Function Hall, 8th Floor of Learning Center Building
Fakultas Ekonomika dan Bisnis Universitas Gadjah Mada
Jl Sosio Humaniora, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta
How to build a diverse nation: lessons from the Indonesian experience by Professor Samuel Bazzi (University of California San Diego).
Professor Samuel Bazzi is a Professor of Economics in the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Economics at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He is also a co-editor at the Journal of Development Economics.
Professor Bazzi’s recent work explores the nation-building process in diverse societies, migration and cultural change, and the political economy of religion. He has a particular interest in how individuals and states adapt to the challenges of diversity, with complementary work in the United States and Indonesia.
Professor Bazzi is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a Fellow at the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). He is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award in 2020.
08:30 Registration open
09:00– 10:00 How to build a diverse nation: lessons from the Indonesian experience by Professor Samuel Bazzi
10:00 – 10:45 Discussion by Dr Muhammad Ryan Sanjaya, Dr Suzanna Eddyono and Dr Jahen Rezki
10:45 – 11:45 Q&A
11:45 – 11.50 Closing
11:50 – 13:00 Lunch
Register to attend in-person (UGM, Yogyakarta) here
Register to join via Zoom here
The Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) and Indonesia Project at The Australian National University (ANU Indonesia Project) have convened the annual Mubyarto Public Policy Forum since 2017 in honour of the late Professor Mubyarto.
Slides and video for past seminars:
