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"Theoretical shifts in anthropological studies in recent decades has given way to renewed recognition of looking at issues of identity, namely that the sociall life, the arena in which the identity plays in, must be fundamentally understood as negotiating meanings. This is where Clifford Geertz?s interpretative approach becomes important yet problematic. Important because Geertz offers a humanistic approach which examines how meanings and symbols become important in the view of the community itself. Therefore, he argues, cultural interpretation requires a more in-depth analysis, also more intelligent and complex in which its purposes and those complexed cultural forms that can not simply be reduced to the effects on the social engines and organisms as claimed by structuralist and functionalist scholars before him. At the same time, it is also problematic because of Geertz?s position that searches for meaning makes him seem neglective or underestimative of the process of how interaction ? the arena of where meanings work ? is produced. In this case, Geertz?s critics have ?helped? by reminding him of what is power relations and agency. Refering to the conception of Sherry Ortner, the author argues that through the agency there is a way to see this debate from the mid. The side which is not for eliminating the significant influence of Geertz is also not to ignore the significance of the critics? arguments, but to bridge the two (meaning and power relations). Efforts in connecting this theory through the concept of agency consequently will include the significance of one party, at the same time improve its insignificance through the criticism of others and vice versa."

"Pada hemat kami, sirik pada orang Bugis-Makassar, kalau itu masih benar potensial untuk dapat menemukan reorientasi dan transformasi ke dalam interpretasi yang dapat menekapi etos kebudayaan nasional Pancasila, yang segenap unsur-unsurnya merupakan darah-daging pribadi sirik, maka sirik itu niscaya dapat menjadi daya dorong yang kuat bagi pembinaan kebudayaan Indonesia."

"This paper reviews various social issues in the trajectory of the author?s life to connect the concept of the view of life and theoretic issues on culture. Through methodological reflections, the author presents various issues which are being constantly discussed in the public mass media about religion, cultural icons as well as daily practices which become entry points to see cultural diversity as well as changes that can be found in the trajectory of life. The author argues that the individual is active in formulating the culture even though it cannot be denied that it can only be articulated through culture as a network of meanings as agreed by the aggregate of individuals or groups."

"On the basis of Bruner's concept of a 'dominant culture', the author analyzes the cases of Bandung, Sambas and Ambon. By comparing the three cases, the author reveals the differences of adaptation strategies among the Javanese in Bandung, the Madurese in Sambas, and the BBM (Buton, Bugis, Makassar) in Ambon. The Javanese from the lower classes in Bandung follow the Sundanese culture as the dominant one, and try to adopt Sundanese ways of behavior. Harmonious relationship between the migrants and the Sundanese as the host population is thus maintained. On the other hand, the Madurese in Sambas and the BBM in Ambon forced their rules and principles so as to dominate those from the natives. As a result, conflicts between the natives and the migrants could not be avoided. The author argues that the dominant culture in a specific setting, with its rules and norms, should be followed by the migrants and outsiders. However, the challenges to the dominant culture can be diverse in different societies and settings. The cases in Sambas and Ambon reveal that there is a problem in the challenge toward the dominant culture in those societies."

"The Ambonese is a community that underwent changes from time to time as a result of the influence of religion, government's policies and global culture. The changes have further implications. A considerable 'in group' solidarity of village as totality (supported by villagers and their special rights, excluding the newcomers) became segregated because of religion. Religion has taken over the traditional rites. The village as an entity of traditional laws based upon genealogy has undergone changes into a public village. The village has become multi profiled with its activities based on needs, e.g. the ceremonial needs for the benefits of traditions. Traditional institutions that strengthened social relations between villages have weakened as a result of the government's policies, and so is the traditional institutions that fulfill the needs of the traditional community."

"On the basis of Bruner's concept of a dominant culture, the author analyzes the case of Bandung, Sambas, and Ambon. By comparing the three cases, the author reveals the differences in adaptation strategies among the Javanese in Bandung, the Maduranese in Sambas, and the BBM (Buton, Bugis, Makassar) in Ambon...[...] The author argues that the dominant culture in a specific setting, with its rules and norms, should be followed by the migrants and outsiders. However, the challenges to the dominant culture can be diverse in different societies and setting. The cases in Sambas and Ambon reveal that there is a problem in the challenge toward the dominant culture in those societies."

"This paper discusses the relevance of culture theories for understanding globalization and cultural change taking place in Indonesia. The issue of globalization and cultural change has recently figured prominently in various discourses in Indonesia, especially in relation to the question of how Indonesia's cultural identities should be maintained in the face of such a global process. This paper argues that the contemporary culture theory can help us understand such concepts as national culture and identity not as a static, essentialist entity, but rather as a dynamic social construction that is continuously reproduced and innovated by individual subjects. Such an argument is put forth in this paper by introducing aspects of culture theory that have not received much attention in Indonesia, i.e. practice, process, context and discourse concerning cultural construction."

"In this article, the author describes the ethnography of the To-Kaili, the largest ethnics group in Central Sulawesi. To-Kaili had an important historical role in the period of Dutch colonization. At least four kingdoms tried to rebel against Dutch rule namely Moutong, Banawa, Sigi, and Kulawi. The author goes on to discuss the "modal personality" of Kaili people which covers social and religious life, ethos, language, art and literature. In the last section, he tries to predict how those people will face changes in the near future."

"In this article, the author describes the ethnography of the Bugis-Makassar, the largest inhabitants in South Sulawesi. His description includes: the historical background, their social stratification, kinship system, traditional political structure, and folklore. How the Bugis-Makassar elite groups are developed and how their social structure influenced by such development is also discussed by the author. Based on the historical evidences it is revealed that identification of the elite groups which is underlined by nobility, emerged in 15th century. In the period of Dutch colonization, composition of the elite groups changed into: pangreh-praja (government administration official) which subsequently emerged as a new elite group. In the era of independence, the position of elites were mostly occupied by the rulling class and well-educated persons. In the last section, the author explains the sirik an institution which refers to human dignity and self-respect - in relation to the conditioning of Indonesian national culture."

"This article seeks to demonstrate the relevance of modern anthropological perspectives to the development of civil society in Indonesia. The concept of civil society has figured prominently in the political discourses taking place in Indonesia today. It has been largely interpreted as an intermediate sphere between the state and local communities, where the discourses on individual freedom as well as cultural and religious diversity can be effectively articulated without being co-opted by the state power, or being bogged down in communal conflicts. This paper argues that modern anthropological perspectives, centering on the idea of the development of polyphonic discourses on cultural identities, can offer a powerful conceptual tool to deconstruct the cultural essentialism perpetuated by the state power and social groups, thereby making a significant contribution to the development of civil society in Indonesia."