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| Intergroup Relations: Multiculturalism |
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Indonesia is a very diverse country. There are over 300 ethnic groups speaking 250 languages spread over more than 6,000 islands. It is also a nation comprised of multiple religious groups. While over 90% of the people are Muslim, there are also Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, and other native religions. (see The Year of Living Dangerously: Indonesia after Suharto by Borgna Brunner)
Although Indonesia has suffered underlying religious and ethnic tensions, it was once considered to be a model for multiculturalism and religious tolerance. The national slogan is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or “Unity in Diversity.” Under the military dictatorship of Suharto the religious and ethnic hostilities were relatively subdued. However, since the end of the Suharto regime, ethnic and religious tensions have been rising. Historical, political, religious, and economic factors all play a part in the increasing violence in the region.
Currently, there are a number of regions of intense ethnic and religious violence in Indonesia. The government’s transmigration program has led to ethnic conflict in Kalimantan and West Papua (Irian Jaya). There is hostility against people of Chinese dissent primarily due to perceived and real economic disparities. Religious conflicts have also flared Maluku between Muslims and Christians, leaving over 5,000 people dead and around 500,000 displaced.
The government faces the difficult task of trying to hold a large diverse nation together. Increased freedom under a democratic government has meant more people speaking out and asserting their ethnic and religious identities. Managing the diversity of Indonesia is a challenge the nation must face to ensure the stability of the region.
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