Regionalism and Dutch political violence in Besuki Residency, 1947-1949

This study discusses the relationship between a series of local events that occurred in the Besuki Residency and the establishment of the State of East Java, which threatened Indonesia's independence. The series of events around the Besuki Residency that led to the formation of the State of East Java had the political potential to endanger the unity of the Republic of Indonesia during the war of independence. This study begins with findings from Indische Courant regarding collaboration between Dutch military officials and several counter-revolutionary local political elites in forming the State of East Java. This study re-examines the factual situation before and after the formation of the State of East Java by analyzing historical sources from a regionalist perspective. This research uses historical research methods including heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography. This research concludes that the formation of the State of East Java was the result of not only the intense Dutch political repression in East Java, but also the growth of local nationalism stemming from the uncertainty experienced by residents amid political and economic instability.