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Decolonizing the Endowment: A Critical Framework for Restructuring Museum Financial Portfolios to Support Restitution and Equity in Indonesia Yuniarti Maretha Pasaribu; Firzan Dahlan; Grace Freya Purba; Susi Diana; Giselle Dupont; Farah Faiza; Danila Adi Sanjaya
Enigma in Economics Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Enigma in Economics
Publisher : Enigma Institute

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.61996/economy.v3i1.89

Abstract

Museums globally are facing a profound ethical reckoning with their colonial foundations. In Indonesia, a nation with a rich history of resisting colonial rule, this discourse has intensified calls for the restitution of cultural artifacts. However, a critical barrier to these decolonial ambitions lies within the financial architecture of museums themselves: the endowment. This study investigated how traditional museum endowment management, guided by principles of perpetuity and maximum growth, often conflicts with and obstructs the ethical imperatives of restitution and equity. This research employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Initially, a quantitative analysis of the investment portfolios of three representative Indonesian museums—a national museum, a private institution, and a regional museum—was conducted. This was followed by a qualitative phase involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 22 museum directors, curators, financial managers, and representatives from source communities. The data were analyzed to identify correlations between investment strategies and institutional capacities for decolonial action. The findings revealed that museum endowments were predominantly invested in global equity and bond markets, with significant exposure to multinational corporations in the Global North, including those in extractive and banking sectors with colonial entanglements. This structure created a "perpetuity paradox," where fiduciary duties were interpreted as precluding the use of funds for restitution-related costs. A profound disconnect was identified between the museums' public-facing decolonial missions and their internal financial strategies. The study culminated in the development of the Restitution and Equity-Aligned (REA) Framework, a novel model for portfolio restructuring. In conclusion, traditional endowment management represents a significant, yet often invisible, colonial legacy within museums. To genuinely decolonize, Indonesian museums must move beyond curatorial gestures and fundamentally restructure their financial engines. The proposed REA Framework provides a viable, ethical, and financially prudent pathway for aligning investment practices with the moral obligations of restitution and the pursuit of reparative justice, offering a replicable model for institutions worldwide.
Archipelagic Consciousness: Reimagining National Identity Through Local and Maritime Histories in Indonesian Primary Education Firzan Dahlan; Grace Freya Purba; Farah Faiza; Amir Serikova; Danila Adi Sanjaya; Yuniarti Maretha Pasaribu; Susi Diana; Christian Napitupulu; Maya Enderson; Emir Abdullah
Enigma in Education Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Enigma in Education
Publisher : Enigma Institute

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.61996/edu.v3i1.93

Abstract

The formation of national identity in Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic state, has historically been dominated by a centralized, terrestrial-focused historical narrative that often marginalizes the rich diversity of local and maritime histories. This study addressed the gap in understanding how a pedagogical shift towards these histories could foster a more inclusive and interconnected sense of nationhood, termed 'Archipelagic Consciousness', among young learners. A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study was conducted over one academic semester in four primary schools across Indonesia. A total of 180 fifth-grade students participated, divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received a pedagogical intervention based on local hero narratives, inter-island trade routes, and project-based learning focused on maritime culture. Data were collected using a validated pre-test/post-test 'Archipelagic Consciousness Inventory' (ACI), supplemented by qualitative data from focus group discussions and student portfolio analysis. Quantitative data analysis revealed a statistically significant, large-effect-size improvement in the ACI scores for the experimental group compared to the control group. Qualitative findings corroborated these results, with major themes emerging that included the validation of local identity as integral to the national story, a conceptual shift from viewing the sea as a barrier to a connector, and an enhanced appreciation for inter-regional cultural diversity. In conclusion, the pedagogical model centered on local and maritime histories was highly effective in cultivating Archipelagic Consciousness. Integrating these narratives into primary education offers a potent pathway for reimagining Indonesian national identity as a dynamic, interconnected, and pluralistic tapestry, moving beyond a monolithic, land-based conception. This study provides empirical support for curriculum reform aimed at fostering a more resilient and inclusive national identity.
Governing the Commons in the Anthropocene: A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Sasi Customary Law's Efficacy in Marine Conservation and Climate Resilience in the Maluku Islands Grace Freya Purba; Farah Faiza; Evelyn Wang; Aaliyah El-Husaini; Benyamin Wongso; Sarah Armalia
Enigma in Law Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Enigma in Law
Publisher : Enigma Institute

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.61996/law.v3i1.97

Abstract

The escalating pressures of the Anthropocene, characterized by climate change and biodiversity loss, demand effective and equitable conservation paradigms. This study investigates Sasi, a form of customary marine tenure in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia, as a potential model for sustainable resource management and climate resilience. A mixed-methods, comparative longitudinal approach was employed across six coastal villages from 2015 to 2025. Three villages actively practicing Sasi were compared with three non-Sasi control villages. Quantitative data included underwater visual censuses for fish biomass, line-intercept transects for coral cover, and household surveys (n=300) to assess socio-economic conditions and climate resilience indicators. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (n=60), focus group discussions (n=12), and participant observation to understand the governance mechanisms and community perceptions of Sasi. Sasi villages exhibited significantly higher mean fish biomass (4.5 ± 0.8 t/ha) compared to non-Sasi villages (1.9 ± 0.6 t/ha) (p<0.001). Live coral cover was more robust in Sasi sites, showing greater resistance to bleaching events. Socio-economically, Sasi communities reported higher, more stable fishing incomes and perceived greater food security. Qualitative analysis revealed that the efficacy of Sasi is driven by strong social cohesion, legitimate authority of the Kewang (customary guardians), and adaptive management informed by traditional ecological knowledge. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that Sasi customary law is a highly effective institution for marine conservation, contributing significantly to ecological health and community climate resilience. The study underscores the critical importance of integrating customary governance systems into national and global conservation strategies to address the complex challenges of the Anthropocene.