Internally Displaced Persons and Informal Citizenship

Sampang Shiites' Struggle after Sectarian Violence

Abstrak

This article examines how the Sampang Shiite community in Madura, Indonesia, navigates structural exclusion and pursues citizenship rights following sectarian violence and forced displacement. It analyzes how clientelistic power relations involving political actors and religious leaders have constrained the community’s recognition and repatriation. The article argues that, despite limited government support and persistent social and economic marginalization, informal networks enable displaced Shiites to exercise political agency, sustain their livelihoods, access healthcare and education, and participate in elections. Support from civil society organizations, religious institutions such as Muhammadiyah, and sympathetic local actors helps address gaps in formal institutional protection. The grassroots People’s Peace Charter, initiated by former perpetrators of sectarian violence, further illustrates the potential of community-based initiatives to rebuild social relations and challenge established patterns of exclusion. However, these networks and initiatives have not overcome the structural barriers to repatriation and full social inclusion. The case demonstrates both the significance and the limitations of informal citizenship: informal networks facilitate everyday survival and create opportunities for reconciliation, but they cannot replace the state’s responsibility to protect minority rights and ensure equal citizenship.