The Dynamic Relations Between Cultural Identity and Nationhood: The Case of Acehnese Acceptance of and Resistance to Indonesia’s State up to Indonesia’s Old Order

A sociocultural identity of a community is not formed in an empty space. Identity is formed by the interaction of a society with socio-cultural factors in their history. In this study, having a long history as a center of political and military power, a center of Islamic scholarship in the region, a history of bold resistance to the colonial power, internal social revolution in overthrowing aristocrat class, etc., all shaped Aceh’s politico-cultural identity. The identity stands on two main cores, Islam and a sense of independence. Shared Islamic identity with other Muslims in Indonesia made Acehnese leaders accepted the idea of being part of Indonesia with one condition that Islam must be the basis of the state. Indeed, to persuade them to agree to be part of Indonesia, Soekarno promised to fulfill that demand. But a few years later the construction of nation-state identity, the development of Indonesian politics, and Soekarno's political stance moved away from Islam. Acehnese saw this not only as a distortion of their identity and hopes but also as a betrayal of the promise given by Soekarno few years earlier