The Social Inclusivity of Arab-Descendant Youth in Solo Society

Abstract

This study examines the social inclusivity of Arab-descendant youth in Solo (Surakarta). It focuses on three main indicators: the shift from traditional trading occupations to other fields, participation in formal education attended by indigenous residents, and involvement in social, political, and organizational institutions dominated by the local community. Using a qualitative field-study approach supported by literature review, observation, and interviews, the study is analyzed through Social Identity Theory, Social Integration Theory, and Assimilation Theory. The findings show that Arab-descendant youth in Solo have increasingly entered education, politics, entrepreneurship, and social organizations. Figures such as Haji Achmad Sulaiman Badrie, Quatly Alkatiri, and Yusuf Haikal Mulachela illustrate how this group is able to take part in wider social structures without losing its cultural background. The study also shows that the long history of Arab community education, especially through Madrasah Mambaul Ulum, has contributed to this process. Overall, the manuscript concludes that inclusivity among Arab-descendant youth in Solo is not a process of cultural erasure, but a form of adaptation and participation that strengthens social cohesion in a multicultural society.