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Paper short abstract

This paper focuses on the emergence of identity politics following the relocation of Indonesia Capital City (IKN) to East Kalimantan. By recentering its periphery, political configuration and contestation on indigenity and other identities arises in the local realm responding new hope and fear.

Paper long abstract

This paper discusses the identity politics that emerged following the relocation of Indonesia New Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan. When the state is recentering its periphery-from Java Island to East Kalimantan- a new political configuration and contestation on indigenity and other identities arises in the local realm. Local people started to reconstruct or invent new cultural identities by distinguishing, enacting or uniting ethnic/group boundaries through various mechanisms, justifications and interests. They started to create new political entity based on indigeneous, kingdom, and local strongman identities. These cultural politics became prominent due to a new power constellation and resource distribution that created hope and fear-inclusion and exclusion- in the context of rapid social change generated by the construction of the new capital. From this case, the reconstruction of new indigenous group (Balik people) is an attempt to respond to the exclusionary effects of IKN development by strengthening their identities and seeking support to achieve recognition of land right. On the other hand, the other two groups actively seeking opportunity and perceive state project not as an enemy, but as a basis to access resources. Forum Mufakat (local strongman-based organization) and the Aji Telik Foundation (kingdom-based organization) build justification and legitimacy to leverage resources. When the former incorporating themselves on new services sectors economy by utilizing racketering, the later focus on (potential) land claim based on historical justification.