DIGITAL NOMADISM AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF LOCAL SOCIAL SPACE: ANALYSIS OF BALI IN THE GLOBAL DIGITAL ECONOMY

Abstract

The digital nomad phenomenon in Bali has attracted both the national and global levels. The development of digital nomadism is driven by technological advancements that enable remote work. The digital nomad phenomenon has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, as more individuals have adopted digital work. This is also driven by a lifestyle that combines vacations and adventures across various countries while still working digitally. Researchers are inspired by Arjun Appadurai's theory of globalisation based on five scapes, which are ethnoscapes, technoscapes, financescapes, mediascapes, and ideoscapes, to understand digital nomadism within the context of global cultural flows and disjuncture, as well as space for the production of locality. Researchers used qualitative methods, including literature reviews and triangulated data analysis. The study reveals that digital nomadism is influenced by various flows within global cultural flows, including ethnoscapes, technoscapes, financescapes, mediascapes, and ideoscapes. Digital nomadism in Bali has had positive impacts, such as boosting the economy and infrastructure, and sharing knowledge through various activities that involve the local community. Unfortunately, this phenomenon also has negative impacts, such as economic inequality, gentrification, cultural conflict, and violations of existing legal regulations. Furthermore, this study scrutinizes that digital nomadism also impacts the social, cultural, and economic conditions of the Balinese people. Therefore, Bali can no longer be viewed as a static place but rather as a dynamic social space where various global and local currents intersect.