Indonesia’s multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious nature results in a diverse and vibrant society. Unfortunately, this diversity also results in numerous protracted interethnic tensions. Here, I want to shed some light on why the Indonesian government has failed to eradicate interethnic antagonism between pribumi (indigenous Indonesians) and Tionghoa (Chinese-Indonesians). Economic and social inequalities along pribumi-Tionghoa ethnic lines are the symptoms, not the source, of this antagonism. Fundamental sociocultural differences between the two groups are the sources of these protracted interethnic tensions. Pribumi-Tionghoa antagonism has deep historical roots, driven by cultural differences that have resulted in significant economic, political and social inequalities. Under Dutch colonial rule, Tionghoa enjoyed preferentia...

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