Indigenous Acceptance of Migrants on Sebatik Island at the Indonesia–Malaysia Border

Abstract

This study analyzes the host community’s acceptance of migrants in international border areas amid increasing global mobility. Drawing on the concept of social harmony, this study aims to understand the factors shaping local acceptance and the dynamics of interaction between Indigenous peoples and migrants. The research uses a qualitative approach, combining participatory observation and in-depth interviews along the Indonesia–Malaysia border to identify social spaces that facilitate cross-community interactions. Research findings indicate that Indigenous resident acceptance of migrants has transcends political, economic, and sociocultural spaces boundaries, rather it fundamentally occurs within religious spaces grounded in Islamic values that have blended into local traditions and daily life, thereby creating a shared border identity. These sustained interactions encourage identity negotiation and produce relatively stable social cohesion in multicultural societies. Theoretically, this study enriches the literature on migrant integration by emphasizing the importance of social space production as a medium for acculturation. Practically, these findings have global implications for the formulation of migration policies and border management, emphasizing that the creation of inclusive spaces for interaction is a key strategy for preventing segregation and strengthening social harmony amid increasingly intensive human mobility.