Baliseering as Reductionism Project: Vandana Shiva’s Ecofeminist Approach

Abstract

Bali is one of the cultural tourism destinations in Indonesia. As a well-known tourism destination, tourism industry in Bali has generated huge economic benefits for the Balinese people. The development of Bali tourism industry is started in the Dutch East Indies era. The colonial government attempted to prevent another bloody war with Bali’s local kingdoms to preserve the law and order in Dutch East Indies. To improve their relations with Bali’s local kingdom, the colonial government introduced the Baliseering policy as a pro-local culture policy to preserve Balinese culture from a foreign culture. However, the colonial government used Baliseering to isolate Bali from Indonesian nationalism movement in Java. Another agenda behind Baliseering policy is to develop Bali as a new tourism destination in Dutch East Indies. To encourage the development of Bali's tourism industry, Bali is promoted as a culturally rich island with bare-chested women, these promotions created the idea of a hidden paradise. This study aims to explain Baliseering as a reductionism project from Vandana Shiva’s ecofeminism approach. Baliseering has exploited Balinese culture and environment and destroyed the ideal relations between Balinese people. With Vandana Shiva’s ecofeminism approach, Baliseering is seen as another patriarchal-capitalist reductionism project. Reductionism in Baliseering policy foundations perpetuates epistemic injustice in Bali. This study is philosophical research on actual problems with a descriptive approach. This research uses the philosophical hermeneutic method with methodological elements consisting of description, historical continuity, and critical reflection.