Challenging ethnic boundaries : transethnic solidarity in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia's social system is perceived to be deeply entrenched alongside ethnic boundaries. despite official concepts of "Bangsa Malaysia" or advertisement-campaigns like "Malaysia - Truly Asia". Discourses and conflicts, especially in party politics, are often polarized and exploited along these lines that transgressing them seems like an insurmountable task. The ruling multiethnic coalition sees itself as the sole guarantor for peace and stability by maintaining a balance between the interests of the different ethnic groups through elite negotiations, thus delegitimizing other forms of interethnic cooperation. This research project tries to analyze the possibilities of challenging this dominant perception on two levels. On a macro level, structural elements in politics and society are examined that weaken or prevent closer interethnic ties, whereas on a micro level, an empirical analysis covering qualitative interviews with local grassroots-NGOs and a quantitative survey of university students tries to evaluate the chances and obstacles towards transethnic solidarity in sections of soci-tY that usually fall under the radar.