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<p class="ql-align-justify">This article examines the representation of Balinese multiculturalism in contemporary Indonesian short stories. The purpose of this study is to explore the construction of the representation of Balinese multiculturalism, revealing the ambivalence and hybridity of identity through the cultural encounter between Java and Bali. The main data sources in this article are two contemporary Indonesian short stories, namely “Paradoks” [Paradox] by Putu Wijaya and “Orang Jawa di Desa Kami” [The Javanese in Our Village] by Sthiraprana Duarsa. Both short stories are analyzed using Stuart Hall’s theory of representation and Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of hybridity, employing a qualitative-interpretive method. The results of the study show that the short story “Paradox” represents the stereotyping of Javanese migrants (outsiders) who then undergo a transformation of self until they are able to find comfort amid the changes in the city of Denpasar. In contrast, the Balinese (insiders) welcome the changes in their city with anxiety. In the short story “The Javanese in Our Village,” the face of Balinese multiculturalism is not only represented as a paradox but also as irony. The Balinese (insiders) are rejected because they are reluctant to become traditional residents in the village where the story takes place. The representation of the paradox of Balinese multiculturalism in both short stories shows that Balinese multiculturalism resonates with global criticism. Nevertheless, in the context of Bali, the problem of multiculturalism is unique because the threat comes not only from outside, but also from within in the form of rigid customs.</p>