Cross-Border Migration and Its Geodynamic Impacts on Demographic-Economic Vulnerability and Social Resilience in Border Communities of Nunukan Regency

Ahmad Ahmad; Nunung Munawaroh; Imelda Hutasoit; Senda Ardiansyah; Muhammad Mustofainal Akhyar

doi:10.37680/ijief.v6i2.10575

Authors

Ahmad Ahmad Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri
Nunung Munawaroh Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri
Imelda Hutasoit Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri
Senda Ardiansyah Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri
Muhammad Mustofainal Akhyar Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37680/ijief.v6i2.10575

Keywords:

Cross-Border Migration; Migration Geodynamics; Demographic-Economic Vulnerability; Social Resilience; Border Communities

Abstract

The Indonesia–Malaysia border region is a dynamic space where cross-border migration creates economic opportunities while increasing the demographic-economic vulnerability of local communities. This study examines the interrelationships among migration geodynamics, demographic-economic vulnerability, and social resilience in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan Province, and formulates directions for integrated border development policies. The study covered mainland Nunukan, Sebatik Island, the former Simantipal Outstanding Boundary Problem (OBP) area, and the Sinapad Sesai segment. A qualitative approach supported by descriptive-quantitative secondary data was employed within a Grounded Policy Research framework. Data were collected through field observations, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with 17 purposively selected key informants: seven migrant workers, three migrant families, two community leaders, and five government officials. Data were analyzed using the Spradley Ethnographic Analysis Model. The findings show that high population mobility and strong economic linkages with Sabah, Malaysia, have increased dependence on informal economic activities, cross-border markets, and employment opportunities in Malaysia, contributing to structural demographic-economic vulnerability. Nevertheless, communities demonstrate social resilience through livelihood diversification, strengthened social capital, and adaptive population administration. The study concludes that integrated border development should prioritize local economic strengthening, downstream seaweed processing, and the strengthening of the Tol Laut (Sea Toll) logistics system, supported by improved population administration and cross-border governance. These interventions can reduce economic dependence on Malaysia, strengthen local economic self-reliance and social resilience, and position Nunukan as an economic shield that supports community welfare and national sovereignty

References

Anggita, I. (2024). Governance Kooperatif dalam Penanganan Buruh Migran Ilegal dan Implikasinya terhadap Ketahanan Wilayah Perbatasan di Kalimantan Barat Provinsi Kalimantan Barat di Indonesia Hubungan perbatasan antara Kalimantan fokus perhatian baik dari segi ekonomi maupun. 30(2), 204–221.

Arifin, R., Zulfa, E., Hanita, M., & Runturambi, A. (2024). Unveiling Indonesia’s migration and border governance: Challenges and imperatives post-pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101202

Asis, M., & Piper, N. (2016). Researching International Labor Migration in Asia. The Sociological Quarterly, 49, 423–444. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2008.00122.x

Aslipour, H., & Zargar, M. R. (2022). Developing Grounded Theory Systematic Approach for Public Policy Researches. 21, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221090357

Axelsson, L., & Hedberg, C. (2025). Placing Migration: Towards More-Than-Relational Geographical Migration Studies. Population, Space and Place, 31(2), e2872. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2872

Azwar, I., Novianty, F., & Yuliananingsih. (2024). Harmonization of Indonesia-Malaysia border communities based on. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 21(1), 127–133.

Brunet-Jailly, E. (2005). Theorizing Borders : An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Geopolitics, 10(4), 633–649. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650040500318449

Chia, C. (2024). Technology and monetary sovereignty: Understanding motivations for central bank digital currencies. Competition & Change, 28, 683–700. https://doi.org/10.1177/10245294241257168

Chu, Y., & Rathbun, N. (2025). Monetary Sovereignty and Central Bank Digital Currencies: Competing Models for Future Cross‐Border Payment Platforms. Global Policy, 16, 329–340. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13495

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches Fourth Edition (4th ed.). Sage publications.

Denzin, N. K. (2017). The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods. Routledge.

Eilenberg, M. (2012). At the edges of states: Dynamics of state formation in the Indonesian borderlands. KITLV Press.

Ellis, F. (2000). Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford University Press.

Haas, H. de, Castles, S., & Miller, M. J. (2020). The age of migration: International population movements in the modern world (6th ed.). The Guilford Press.

Kaşlı, Z., & Winters, N. (2025). The Migration–Development Nexus Revisited: A Place-based Mobility Perspective from the Borderlands. Development and Change, 56(6), 1197–1227. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.70028

Madison, F. (2024). A Microfounded Approach to Currency Substitution and Government Policy. Journal of Economic Theory, 219, 105847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jet.2024.105847

Makmur. (2025). The effect of policy implementation , management of border areas , relations between government and community welfare to security effectiveness in the border area of Indonesia-Malaysia ( A study of Nunukan Regency , North Kalimantan Province ). . . International Journal of Social Science Research, 4(2).

Newman, D., & Sheba, B. (2006). The lines that continue to separate us : borders in our ‘ borderless ’ world. 2(April 2005), 1–19.

Norris, F. H., Stevens, S. P., Pfefferbaum, B., Wyche, K. F., & Pfefferbaum, R. L. (2007). Community Resilience as a Metaphor, Theory, Set of Capacities, and Strategy for Disaster Readiness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(1–2), 127–150.

Olcese, M., Cardinali, P., Madera, F., Camilleri, A., & Migliorini, L. (2024). Migration and community resilience: A scoping review. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 98, 101924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101924

Putnam, R. D. (1993). Making democracy work: Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton University Press.

Richards, C., & Farrokhnia, F. (2016). Optimizing Grounded Theory for Policy Research : A Knowledge-Building Approach to Analyzing WTO E-Commerce Policies. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406915621380

Scott, J. W. (2012). European politics of borders, border symbolism and cross-border cooperation. Regional & Federal Studies, 22(2), 213–228.

Seran, S. T., Putri, A. A., Risqi, M., Iryanti, G. R., & Putri, C. M. K. (2025). Neglected Governance in State Borderlands: Policy Disparities in Autonomy and the Erosion of Local Loyalty along the Indonesia–Malaysia Boundary in West Kalimantan. Jurnal Ilmiah Administrasi Pemerintahan Daerah(JIAPD), 17(2), 224–234. https://doi.org/10.33701/jiapd.v17i2.5705

Siburian, R. (2012). Pulau Sebatik: Kawasan Perbatasan Indonesia Beraroma Malaysia. 14(1), 53–76.

Spradley, J. P. (1980). Participant Observation. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Stark, O., & Bloom, D. E. (1985). The New Economics of Labor Migration. The American Economic Review, 75(2), 173–178.

Suhada, Idries, F. A., Nasrulloh, R. S., & Wulandari, N. D. (2024). Memanusiakan Pahlawan Devisa : Pemberdayaan dan Advokasi Komunitas Migran Indonesia di Malaysia Pendahuluan. 4(1), 39–47.

Syahrudin, H., & Ulfah, M. (2025). Remittances, human capital, and local resilience: Cross-border migration dynamics in the Indonesia–Malaysia border. Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi (JURKAMI), 10(3), 1–12.

Velde, M., & van Naerssen, T. (2010). People, borders, trajectories: an approach to cross-border mobility and immobility in and to the European Union: People, borders, trajectories. Area, 43, 218–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2010.00974.x