Global Indonesian Diaspora: How many are there and where are they?

Salut Muhidin Macquarie University, Ariane Utomo Australian National University, Australia

Abstract

In the last few years, there is an increasing interest in connecting Indonesian diaspora around the world in order to assist in the national development. A recent event called “Congress of Indonesian Diaspora” held by Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) in Jakarta was conducted to focus on this issue. To date, not much is known about the size and composition of the global Indonesian diaspora. This paper attempts to address this gap by analysing the migration patterns and several specific demographic factors related to the global Indonesian diaspora. The paper will also explore the potential impacts of Indonesian diaspora could play in Indonesian development.

Key words: Indonesian Diaspora, migration, development.

“Population dynamics and the Angeles in July 2012 and the second restructuring of economies have Congress in Jakarta in August 2013. The contributed to increasing awareness 2nd CID had a theme of ‚Pulang among policy makers about the key Kampung‛ which means ‚Coming back role that international migrants play home‛ in an attempt to bring together in satisfying labour demand in Indonesian diaspora in one network particular sectors and in maintaining community (so-called Indonesian the international networks necessary Diaspora Network or IDN) and to build a for the operation of the global new emerging power of the millions of economy…international migration is overseas . Many ideas and an integral part of the development lessons have been learned and exchanged process and the functioning of modern from the events that have been carried economies.” forward into actions. The theme of the third CID was ‘Diaspora Bakti Bangsa,’ (UN Secretary General 2010: 3). which means ‘Diaspora Devotion to the Introduction Nation.’ It emphasizes the spirit of global Indonesian diaspora in their attempts to In August 2015, many overseas promote shared prosperity for . Indonesians from around the world The Congress highlighted several main arrived in Jakarta to attend the Congress issues, including sustainable cities (with of Indonesian Diaspora (CID). This is the the case studies in Jakarta and Bandung), third CID since its first Congress in Los healthcare, higher learning , the

Journal of ASEAN Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2 (2015), pp. 93-101 ©2015 by CBDS Bina University and Indonesian Association for International Relations ISSN 2338-1361 print / ISSN 2338-1353 electronic

94 The Global of Indonesian Diaspora economy, culinary, creative economy, years. Since these databases primarily dual citizenship, and maritime target Indonesian-born international development. migrants only, we then use an example of detailed tabulations from the 2011 In recent years, the government of Australian Population Census using data Indonesia has started to pay more on ancestry, country of birth, and attention to the existence of its diaspora language spoken at home to illustrate and to appreciate them as a national how the size of the diaspora may be resource. The Indonesian Ministry of potentially different to the one estimated Foreign Affairs, for example, established using the international migrant stock data. the Indonesian Diaspora Desk that is To conclude, we discuss potential positive headed at ambassadorial level. The former impacts of Indonesian diaspora on president Yudhoyono in his message at development in Indonesia. the 2nd CID also stated that the ‚Diaspora‛ approach should become the Estimating Indonesian Diaspora: new strategy of Indonesia. The current Definition and data sources vice president Kalla in his message at the 3rd CID said that the support of The first step in estimating the Indonesian diaspora could take the form total number of Indonesian diaspora is to of experiences, networks, capital and define the diaspora itself. Broadly access to foreign markets. speaking, diaspora is defined as ‚a group of people who live outside the area which While the CID had showcased a they had lived for a long time or in which number of contributions from Indonesian their ancestors lived,‛ (Merriam-Webster, diaspora, there are still many more retrieved 23/04/2015). This is the result of potentials that have been untapped. One the ‘dispersion of a people from its fundamental question that keeps on original homeland’ (Butler, 2001:189). coming up in the ensuing discussions on Despite the clarity of this explanation, the Indonesian diaspora relates to its size diaspora is a word that has evolved in and distribution. meaning overtime and to this day doesn’t have a precise definition. This is because Drawing from an earlier working there are several paradigms as to what the paper from Muhidin and Utomo (2013), term truly means and as to how it can be this paper aims to update and stimulate applied to certain populations. further discussions on the estimated size and distribution of the Indonesian The term ‘diaspora’ originally diaspora in the global world. comes from the Greek word ‘diaspeirein’ which is ‘dia’ for across and ‘speirein' for This paper is structured as follows. scatter. In the past, this term carried First, we outline two problems associated negative connotations as it was associated with the great variability with current with the forced dispersal of Jews estimates of the size of the diaspora: its population from their homeland. In definition and data source. After today’s globalised world, the term outlining these various estimates, we diaspora becomes universal phenomenon explore results from two different and has replaced a variety of flows of databases on international migrant stock migration like labour migrants, refugees, to look at the distribution and the growth and marriage migrants. This is because of Indonesian-born migrants in recent

Journal of ASEAN Studies 95

more migrants today are due to moving transnational members of the diaspora voluntarily rather than due to forced or over an extended period of time. involuntarily migration such as , persecution or convictions. In addition, Following these criterions, many diaspora populations have been identifying members of the Indonesian established for the centuries. Despite the diaspora in a statistical manner becomes sufferings experienced by diaspora harder. It is not clear through how many populations during colonisation centuries migrant generations, on average, the ago, its significance in history has in some boundary-maintenance characteristics of respects been forgotten by members of the the diaspora would last. In this case, present generation (Safran, 1991). This is should we then limit statistical estimates because of their tendency to forge their of the Indonesian diaspora to first identity with the ‚host land‛, as well as generation migrants only? Alternatively, their entitled legal status as citizens of the should we include anyone with any country. In short, this modern migration ancestry of Indonesians, no matter how allows for a triangular relationship, where small, including an Australian whose diaspora are able to review, reformulate great-great-great grandfather was a and re-define their terms of engagement seafarer from Makassar? Having such a vis-à-vis both the home and the country of comprehensive picture of anyone with residence. Indonesian ancestry living abroad would be ideal. Unfortunately, we are faced with Following this simplest definition, a second problem in our exercise, that of one may consider the Indonesian diaspora data source. as consisting of Indonesians by birth and ancestry who live outside of Indonesia. In Table 1 illustrates the varying many cases, this definition of the diaspora estimates of the number of the Indonesian is used interchangeably with ‘overseas diaspora depending on both the definition Indonesians’. and data source. These estimates ranged between 2 to 8 million. The conservative While the above definition seems estimates of the Indonesian diaspora are simple, in practice, any attempt to trace mainly drawn from international migrant the patterns and the scale of the stock datasets. These estimates are mostly dispersion of a large number of people based on statistics of foreign-born from any particular point of origin is far population obtained from national from being straightforward. The first population censuses. International problem relates to the aforementioned migrant stock datasets provide estimates definition. The Indonesian of the number of Indonesian-born diaspora/overseas Indonesians, by and population living abroad, and exclude large, is a socially constructed population second and later generations as well as (Muhidin, 2013). Brubaker (2005) other overseas Indonesians who were not highlights the three general criterions to born in Indonesia. define what constitutes a diaspora: dispersement, homeland orientation, and The first data source of this kind, boundary-maintenance. The last criterion the Global Migrant Origin Database, is refers to a set of homeland-anchored compiled by the Development Research collective identities shared by the Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty of the University of Sussex

96 The Global of Indonesian Diaspora

(Migration DRC., 2007). The dataset estimates from the Indonesian Ministry of records stocks (not flows) of lifetime Foreign Affairs based on official reports migration by looking at data of overseas from 167 diplomatic offices, as cited by born population in each host country with the Indonesian Ambassador for the year 2000 as a reference period. The is 4.7 million (Satrio, 2013). estimated total number of Indonesian- In a later occasion, the number cited born migrants from this dataset is 1.8 increased to 6 million (Rahadi, 2013). million. A more recent dataset on stocks Furthermore, the Bureau of Overseas of Indonesian-born migrant is available General Election (Badan Pemilihan Luar from the Population Division of the Negeri, or BPLN) reports that about United Nations Department of Social and 2,040,368 Indonesian overseas have Economic Affairs (UN DESA., 2013). This currently registered as potential voters in dataset estimated that there are almost 3 the 2014 election. The largest number of million Indonesian-born migrants globally these overseas voters is recorded in in 2013. and where most Indonesian workers are located. This last In contrast to the estimates based figure only refers to those who are eligible on international migrant stock datasets, to vote in the election (i.e. at least 17 years publicly circulating estimates of the global old or ever married). In other words, there size of the Indonesian diaspora tend to be are still more overseas Indonesians who much larger. For example, the Wikepedia are not registered such as children aged site on overseas Indonesians proposed less than 17 years old and undocumented that there are about 5.3 million overseas migrants. Last figure from Indonesian Indonesian abroad. Such estimates are Diaspora Network (IDN) website based on a range of host country-specific indicates that there is an estimated eight data which often include second and later million Indonesian diaspora currently generations overseas Indonesians. The living in over 120 countries.

Table 1. Various estimates on the size of the Indonesian Diaspora

Source Date Estimates Link

Global migrant origin http://www.migrationdrc.org/re database - version 4 2007 1,832,945 search/typesofmigration/global _migrant_origin_database.html UN DESA International migrant stock by destination and origin 2013 2,992,550 http://esa.un.org/unmigration/ migrantstocks2013.htm?msdo Dino Patti Djalal http://idn.kbrikualalumpur.org/ (estimates from 167 index.php/80-template- Indonesian Diplomatic 3/01/2013 4,700,000 details/general/111-idn Office overseas)

Journal of ASEAN Studies 97

Wikipedia (various sources - data for certain countries 26/11/201 include second 3 5,313,000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ov generations Indonesians erseas_Indonesian abroad) http://www.republika.co.id/beri 11/06/201 ta/nasional/umum/13/11/06/mv Dino Patti Djalal 3 6,000,000 u01i-dino-patti-djalal-dukung- kewarganegaraan-ganda- diaspora-indonesia Indonesian Diaspora Network 2015 8,000,000 www.diasporaindonesia.org

In summary, these estimated 2000. In the last two decades, the figures indicate that there is no single and estimated size had more than doubled. detailed record of the composition of Indonesian diaspora globally. Whether Figure 2 depicts the estimated one would lean towards using the distribution of Indonesian-born migrants estimates of Indonesian-born global by the top ten country of destinations in migrant stock or other available estimates 2013 (UN DESA., 2013). Malaysia remains as listed above, would depend on which the top destination country, hosting about definition of overseas Indonesians/ 35 per cent of Indonesian-born migrants Indonesian diaspora is being discussed. or 1,051,227. Together, Saudi Arabia and At this point, the UN-DESA international the host almost a migrant stock data is readily available, quarter of Indonesian-born migrants. and relatively most accessible, to further Please note that the figure here, look into the pattern of distribution and however, has limitation in terms of its the growth of overseas Indonesians data coverage. The data are mainly overtime. derived from censuses which are often Size and Distribution of Indonesian- systematically exclude migrant groups. born migrants Moreover, the data do not yet include all countries in which Indonesians are living. Irrespective of the varying It does not include second and later definitions and resulting estimates of the generations born to Indonesia- size of the Indonesian diaspora, one thing born parents and grand-parents. It does that we could assert is the fact that it is not include many Indonesians who are growing. Figure 1 outlines the rise of the temporary residents (foreign workers, estimated size of Indonesian-born students etc.) It is also questionable migrants globally from 1990 to 2013 (UN whether undocumented migration is fully DESA., 2013). There is an estimated captured in census data. Despite those growth of 50 per cent in the stock of limitation, the figure has been able to Indonesian-born migrant between1990- indicate the general distribution of Indonesian diaspora around the globe.

98 The Global of Indonesian Diaspora

Figure 1. Estimates of Indonesian-born populations overseas 1990-2013

Source: United Nations DESA (2013)

Figure 2. Selected Countries with the highest stock of Indonesian-born populations 2013

Source: United Nations DESA (2013)

Case Study: Estimating the Indonesian different data sources and the variables diaspora in Australia used for the analysis. To begin with, estimates from the UN DESA Using Australia as an example, international migrant stock data suggest different estimates on the size of that there were 72,967 and 78,744 Indonesian diaspora owing to the

Journal of ASEAN Studies 99

Indonesian-born persons in Australia in impacts of diaspora to the development 2010 and 2013 respectively. As expected, on their home country: because the international migrant stock data is primarily based on the stock of Firstly, remittances from first generation migrants, these estimates have been demonstrated to be are lower than the estimates of Indonesian a larger and more reliable source of diaspora directly generated from the 2011 development funds than the official Australian Population Census by Muhidin development assistance from donor and Pardosi (2012). agencies such as the World Bank (Mohapatra, Ratha and Silwal 2011). For To estimate the size of the Indonesian diaspora, data from the Indonesian diaspora, Muhidin and Agency for the Placement and Protection Pardosi (2012) used three variables from of Indonesian Migrant Workers the 2011 Australian Population Census: (BNP2TKI) revealed that Indonesia persons speaking Bahasa Indonesian at received over Rp 97 trillion (US$7.18 home, persons nominating Indonesia as billion) in remittance in 2014 alone from an ancestry, and persons born in migrant workers. This remittance would Indonesia. All three variables yield be much more if it is combined with other different estimates ranging between types of diaspora that is currently 50,688 to 63,159 individuals. Combining estimated about 8 million. Yet, this is a these three individual identifiers, relatively smaller compared to Muhidin and Pardosi (2012) estimated Vietnamese, who have just started to that the Indonesian diaspora in Australia mobilise their diaspora network and have is about 87,807 persons. This case study been earning $10 billion in remittances a shows that even when researchers used year. Secondly, the diaspora can be both a the same data source, the estimated size of direct source of Foreign Direct Investment the Indonesian diaspora would be (FDI) and an effective ‘middleman’ to contingent upon the choice of variables channel FDI towards the home economy. used in the analysis. Lucas (2003) in his study shows how Chinese diaspora has contributed about 60-70% of FDI, as the biggest in the world. Potential Positive Impacts of Diaspora There has been considerable discussion of on Development in Indonesia how Chinese business and social networks have overcome barriers to Indonesian diaspora today consist international . Thirdly, the diaspora of Indonesian who live overseas, or can be a bridgehead into expansion of the foreigners who have Indonesian origin, as economic linkages of the home nation. well as individuals who have Indonesian Korean Americans were the bridgeheads linkage personally or socially. Using such for the successful penetration of the definition provided by IDN, it is United States market by Korean car, estimated about 8-10 million Indonesians electronics and white good manufacturers. diaspora (both WNI and WNA) all over Canadian based studies have shown that the world. In short, the diasporas are not a doubling of skilled migration from Asia only contribute in terms of their number saw a 74 percent increase in but also their potential impacts. Following imports to (Head and Reis, 1998; Hugo (2013), here are five main potential Lucas, 2001). Fourthly, diaspora networks have become important in transmitting

100 The Global of Indonesian Diaspora information both formally and informally. suggest that the size of the diaspora is This dimension is largely confined to growing, and has more than doubled in skilled migrants. Lucas (2001, 22) has the period between 1990 and 2013. shown how professionals in origin and Further estimates from the UN destination economies have maintained International Migrant Stock database strong linkages so that ideas flow freely in suggest that close to 60 per cent of both directions. Fifthly, many expatriates Indonesian-born migrants in 2013 are in return to their homeland country and Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United contribute to development (Conway and Arab emirates. Potter, 2009). As shown by the Australian case As a matter of fact, Indonesian study presented briefly in this paper, diaspora network has started those paths future efforts on estimating the size, the by establishing several task forces (i.e. changing nature, and the composition of liveable cities, health, culinary as well as the Indonesian diaspora would benefit immigration policy and dual citizenship) from detailed tabulation and in-depth and special programmatic function (i.e. country studies in top destination areas Indonesian diaspora foundation, business council, brain-bank and women forum). It has been expected that those activities can About the Author direct more partnerships between foreign hosts and home countries with the Salut Muhidin, PhD is a senior supports from Indonesian diaspora. At lecturer of Demography program at the same time, diaspora can transfer the Macquarie University in Sydney, invaluable skills and experience they Australia. Salut Muhidin can be reached gained abroad. at bus.mq.edu.au; Detail profile see at: bus.mq.edu.au

Conclusion Ariane Utomo, PhD is a research fellow at Crawford School of Public Policy, Estimating the size of the the Australian National University. Indonesian diaspora is not a Ariane Utomo can be reached at straightforward exercise. Available [email protected]; Detail profile estimates on the size and distribution of see at: the diaspora vary greatly depending on https://crawford.anu.edu.au/people/acade the definitions, the data source, and the mic/ariane-utomo choice of the variables used to derive the estimates. The earlier draft of this study was presented at the 4th ICOBIRD- Up to 2015, the estimated size of International Conference on Business, diaspora ranged from between 2.9 to 8 International Relations, and Diplomacy, at million, with the lowest estimate bounded BINUS Campus, Jakarta, on 3-4 to the global numbers of Indonesian-born November 2015. population residing abroad. While the available estimates of the size of diaspora are subject to high variations, data from the UN International Migrant stock

Journal of ASEAN Studies 101

Reference http://idn.kbrikualalumpur.org/in dex.php/80-template- Brubaker, R. (2005). The 'diaspora' details/general/111-idn. diaspora. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 28(1), 1-19. UN DESA. (2013). Trends in International Migrant Stock: Migrants by Butler, K. D. (2001). Defining diaspora, Destination and Origin, refining a discourse. Diaspora: a POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev: UN journal of transnational studies, 10(2), Department of Economic and 189-219. Social Affairs, Population Division

Migration DRC. (2007). Global Migrant Utomo, A. (2011). Indonesian Diaspora: Origin Database, Mapping the road to brain gain. http://www.migrationdrc.org/research/ty http://www.sr-indonesia.com/web- pesofmigration/global_migrant_ori exclusives/view/indonesian- gin_database.html. diaspora-mapping-the-road-to- brain-gain Muhidin, S. (2013). Indonesian Diaspora in Australia: Background and Current Development, The 2013 Indonesian Council Open Conference, 11-12 July 2013. University of Tasmania, Hobart.

Muhidin, S. and Pardosi, J (2012). Indonesian Diaspora in Australia, the 2012 Biennial Conference of Australian Population Association, 5- 7 December 2012. Melbourne, Victoria.

Muhidin, S and Utomo, A. (2013). How many overseas Indonesians are there? Indonesia Diaspora Network, Discussion Paper Series No.1/2013.

Rahadi, F. (2013). Dino Patti Djalal Dukung Kewarganegaraan Ganda Diaspora Indonesia. Republika Online.

Safran, W. (1991) Diasporas in modern societies: Myths of homeland and return. Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, 1(1), 83-99.

Satrio, B. E. (2013). Diaspora Indonesia, Konektivitas Menjadi Jiwa Nasionalisme