Dynamics of Multiculturalism in Southeast Asia: Cultural Identity of Rohingya Muslim Refugees in Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzes the dynamics of multiculturalism and the cultural acculturation of Rohingya Muslim refugees in Aceh, Indonesia, focusing on cultural identity, social interaction, and the education of the younger generation. Aceh was chosen as the research locus because it has consistently welcomed Rohingya since 2015, driven by cultural values and Islamic solidarity. A qualitative approach and case studies were used to understand how Rohingya identity is conveyed, negotiated, and maintained within the Acehnese social context. The results indicate that acculturation occurs primarily in the religious dimension and daily practices but is selective and limited. Language barriers, the separation of living spaces through refugee camps, and the lack of legal status limit deeper social integration. The interaction between the two communities is more reflective of surface multiculturalism based on humanitarian empathy rather than structural integration. Meanwhile, education and the second generation of Rohingya show significant potential as agents of more adaptive acculturation through schooling and informal training. This study concludes that multiculturalism in Aceh is situational and requires more inclusive policy support, particularly in education, access to social interaction, and residential stability, so that relations between the Acehnese and Rohingya communities can develop sustainably and integratively.