Can Cultural Homogenization be an Open-Ended Process? Reconstructing the Narratives of Brunei’s Homogenization Process

This paper examines the cultural homogenization process in Brunei Darussalam. While the success and outcomes of cultural homogenization, in general, have been thoroughly examined and highlighted, recent research trends have also been focusing more on the processes of cultural homogenization on the g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethnic and cultural studies 2023-05, Vol.10 (2), p.75-89
Main Author: Kumpoh, Asiyah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Acculturation
Case studies
Cultural Pluralism
Culture
Economic development
Equal Education
Ethnic groups
Ethnicity
Geographic Location
Homogenization
Indonesian Languages
Islam
Language policy
Literature reviews
Minority & ethnic groups
Minority Groups
Modernization
Narratives
Nationalism
Official Languages
Original Manuscript
Political development
Respondents
Social Agencies
Society
State building
State Policy
Trends
Values
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:This paper examines the cultural homogenization process in Brunei Darussalam. While the success and outcomes of cultural homogenization, in general, have been thoroughly examined and highlighted, recent research trends have also been focusing more on the processes of cultural homogenization on the ground, i.e., the responses and reactions of ordinary people who are, supposedly, at the receiving end of the homogenization process. In the case of Brunei Darussalam (hereinafter Brunei), cultural homogenization strategies were introduced as early as the 1950s, primarily for state-building purposes. Similar to conventional writings, official narratives of Brunei’s homogenization also focus more on the outcomes of the process. Thus, focusing on the Dusun ethnic group as its case study, this article questions the ways the Dusuns view and respond to the homogenization process. This study utilizes the interview data gathered from thirty-four Dusun respondents to examine how they perceive, understand, and react toward the process and related policies. The findings of the study suggest that the Dusuns generally accept the homogenization with a sporadic indication of contestation mainly due to the observable decline of ethnic culture and language. Modernization has also been identified as a notable agent, integrating successfully with the homogenizing process, and driving the latter to the desired outcomes.
ISSN:2149-1291
2149-1291
DOI:10.29333/ejecs/1489