Page 79 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Migrant traders, social capital, and politics

4. Conclusion this study can provide hope that certain social capital-
based survival strategies and local wisdom practiced by
Many studies on migration suggest that minority migrant Madurese migrant traders can be developed as a model
groups are often forced to give up their identity, are for the socioeconomic empowerment of urban ethnic
marginalized, and adapt completely when arriving in a migrant groups, especially in developing countries such as
new environment. The practice of cultural assimilation and Indonesia.
cultural acculturation is often considered the only option
in an effort to build social harmony for minority migrant Finally, this study has a few limitations. First, the data
groups. The original contribution of this study was to provide does not encompass the perspectives of all Madurese
a different perspective on this long-standing argument, stall owners in Jakarta. Not all Warung Madura owners
using the case study of the Warung Madura network in live in Jakarta; some continue to live on Madura Island
Jakarta, where migrant traders of Madurese small grocery and monitor their businesses remotely. In addition,
stalls can build social-economic independence in a new land the quantitative data collected in this study are limited
while still being able to maintain their identity as migrants. and could be expanded, not only to the owners and
employees of Warung Madura but also to the consumers
The results of this study refined the findings of previous of Warung Madura. Future studies should cover these data
migration studies by emphasizing the crucial relationship more broadly, including informants who live in the new
between internal migration practices, ethnic-based migration location and in the migrants’ home areas, as well
economics, social capital, and local wisdom (especially as the consumers of Warung Madura. This approach would
Madurese culture and traditional Islamic teachings). First, add more perspectives and depth so that the findings could
this study reveals that the survival and independence of enrich the study of the socioeconomic dynamics of urban
the Madurese migrant trader group in Jakarta are strongly migrant minority groups in Indonesia.
influenced by their ability to utilize social capital. The social
capital found in this study is mainly in the form of trust and Acknowledgments
social networks. The study identifies three forms of trust:
(i) trust between stall owners and stall employees; (ii) trust The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the
between stall owners and goods’ agents or distributors; Directorate of Research, Technology, and Community
and (iii) trust between fellow stall owners. In each case, the Service, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and
principle of reciprocity becomes an important mechanism Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, which made this
to bind not only the economic relationships but, more research possible.
importantly, the social relationships. Furthermore, trust Funding
is also the main foundation for the formation of a strong
and independent social network among Madurese stalls in This study was funded by the Directorate of Research,
Jakarta. Technology, and Community Service, Ministry of

Second, Madurese local wisdom significantly Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the
influences the network of Warung Madura in Jakarta. This Republic of Indonesia, with contract number 4610/
study identifies three main categories of local wisdom UN46.4.1/PT.01.03/2023.
that contribute to the socio-economic independence of Conflict of interest
the Warung Madura network: (i) traditional customs:
local cultural elements (including ca’-oca’an or idioms/ The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
proverbs) and teachings from traditional Islamic religion;
(ii) material culture: this includes Madurese artifacts, Author contributions
goods, tools, weapons, and clothing; and (iii) cultural Conceptualization: All authors
practices: this refers to typical behavioral practices within Investigation: Medhy Aginta Hidayat, Iskandar Dzulkarnain,
the Madurese ethnic cultural community. Ida Ruwaida

The strategy of socioeconomic independence based Methodology: Medhy Aginta Hidayat, Iskandar Dzulkarnain
on social capital and local wisdom applied by the owners Writing-original draft: Medhy Aginta Hidayat, Anita
of Warung Madura in Jakarta has the potential to be Kristina
developed as a model of socioeconomic empowerment for Writing-review & editing: All authors
migrant groups in Indonesia and elsewhere. At present, Ethics approval and consent to participate
the presence of Warung Madura is not limited to the
Jabodetabek area. They also appear in many other cities Ethical approval for this study is obtained from the Ethics
and towns, especially on the island of Java. The results of Committee, Institute for Research and Community

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 73 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2637