A sense of security in urban environments: discrimination, diversity and prospects for communication strategies

Abstract

This study explores the public’s perception of how power dynamics in communication contribute to the distribution of values and response to diversity in a demography of a dominant religious presence with impactful tribal and cultural customs. Surveys were conducted using a random sample withdrawal method involving 400 respondents from 15 sub-districts in Makassar, Indonesia. The results show that most instances of discrimination did not occur on the basis of type, gender, ethnicity, religion, physical appearance, or area of origin. However, discrimination was evident in the social and economic status categories. The level of acceptance of diversity in ethnicity and religion is also high, although some small respondents indicated indifference or dislike to diversity. The study is significant as Indonesia is a densely-populated nation anchored to values of unity in diversity. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s largest city in Eastern Indonesia, Makassar, is a thriving metropolitan city highly urbanized and hosts different demographic backgrounds. This study allows for a solid empirical contribution to discourses of communication in an inclusively public setting, means of promoting cohesion, responses to prejudice, and the role of public discourse in public perceptions concerning discrimination and diversity.

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