Post-Independence Marginalization of the Bantenese

 Post-Independence Marginalization of the Bantenese

After Indonesia gained independence in 1945, Banten did not immediately experience the empowerment or development its people had hoped for. Instead, the region went through a long period of political, economic, and cultural marginalization, both within national frameworks and the province of West Java, to which it belonged until 2000.

Here are the key aspects of that marginalization:

🔹 1. Administrative Neglect under West Java

• For decades, Banten was part of West Java Province, governed from Bandung.

• Development programs were often concentrated in Bandung and central parts of West Java, while Banten's rural areas remained underdeveloped.

• The lack of local political representation and autonomy contributed to a sense of exclusion and alienation among the Bantenese.

• Infrastructure, healthcare, and education services lagged behind national averages—especially in southern and inland Banten.

🔹 2. Sociocultural Marginalization

• The Bantenese are ethnically close to the Sundanese but have distinct cultural and religious traditions, including strong Islamic piety, pesantren-based education, and ritual practices.

• These cultural characteristics were often misunderstood or overlooked by national narratives that centered Javanese or Sundanese cultural norms.

• The stereotype of Bantenese people as “primitive,” “superstitious,” or “rebellious” persisted, partly shaped by colonial writings (including Snouck Hurgronje) and reinforced by the 1888 uprising.

🔹 3. Economic Underdevelopment

• Banten’s economy, especially in agriculture and fishing, remained largely subsistence-based, with little investment from the central government for decades.

• The industrialization of western Banten (e.g., Cilegon) in the Suharto era benefited elites and corporations but did not significantly uplift the broader rural population.

• Coastal and southern areas faced environmental degradation and displacement due to industrial and tourism development.

🔹 4. Security and Surveillance During New Order (Orde Baru)

• Under Suharto’s authoritarian regime (1966–1998), Banten was seen as a potential source of religious radicalism and unrest, especially because of its Islamic heritage and history of rebellion.

• Many pesantren and ulama were monitored or suppressed, and public expressions of regional identity or dissatisfaction were discouraged.

• Some Islamic activists in Banten were linked (rightly or wrongly) to Darul Islam or other banned movements, leading to state-led stigma and surveillance.

🔹 5. Late Provincial Autonomy – Banten Becomes a Province (2000)

• After the fall of Suharto and during the Reformasi era, Banten became a separate province in 2000, splitting from West Java.

• This was partly the result of long-standing local frustration, as well as Islamic and political mobilization for self-governance.

• Provincial status opened new possibilities for development, but also introduced new challenges of governance, corruption, and elite capture.

🔹 6. Collective Psychological Impact

• The combination of administrative neglect, cultural stereotyping, and lack of opportunity has contributed to a collective sense of grievance among the Bantenese.

• This contributes to regional pride, but also resentment toward central and external authorities.

• It explains why Islamic identity and traditional structures like pesantren and kyai remain central to public life in Banten—as both cultural resistance and sources of dignity.

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