JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The weakening social cohesion related to a widening economic gap cannot be overcome by mere economic policy. Indonesia also needs a guide for cultural strategy and decide the direction the country will take and what it will be in the long run.
The weakening of social cohesion was reflected in the results of a Litbang Kompas survey, which involved 512 respondents in 14 big cities in Indonesia on May 17 to 19. In the survey, many respondents said they see a decline in social solidarity, tolerance between ethnicities and tolerance between other groups in Indonesia. A number of parties feel that one of the factors that contributed to the loosening social cohesion is the widening social economic gap (Kompas, 22/5).
In the short term, economic imbalance is a problem that must quickly be resolved. The gini ratio (which measures income imbalances), based on Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data in September 2016, was 0.394, down by 0.008 from the September 2015 figure of 0.402. It needs to be lowered further.
Regarding this matter, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University professor Azyumarddi Azra on Monday (22/5) said that having pushed the development of infrastructure, the government must now also plan concrete and effective steps to overcome the problem of economic imbalance. In carrying out this task in the past, the government has always been assisted by mass organizations that work in the social and philanthropic fields, such as Nadhlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.
However, Azyumardi added, relying only on economic approaches to deal with the problem of the social gap and cohesion would result in an impact that is ad-hoc and not holistic in nature. Therefore, the government must also, at the same time, plan a cultural strategy that will play a role in building the character of the nation in the long term.
“I suggest that a cultural strategy be made up until the year 2045. When Indonesia becomes 100 years old, how will Indonesia be in term of the various aspects of life and what cultural strategy needs to be done to achieve that?” he said.
As an example, to build an Indonesian national character that is independent and cohesive, the necessary education model, starting from elementary school, must be formulated. The effect would not be felt right away, but would only be felt when the children become university students or graduate from college.
Parallel
Physical and cultural development can be carried out in parallel with each other. Without human development and the preservation of the nation’s local culture, infrastructure and economic progress will be in vain because the social cohesion and the people’s humanity are in danger of being neglected.
Ledia Hanifa, a member of House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees art and cultural affairs, feels that the government often overlooks the aspect of human development when talking about a national development strategy through infrastructure and economic growth. “Infrastructure development is emphasized, but where is the involvement of culture?” she asked.
According to Ledia, physical infrastructure development should not be separated from the involvement and utilization of local culture. “When we build a nation while going back to the local culture of our nation, which is so diverse, we are actually looking back at the roots of our nation that made Indonesia one and united,” said the Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) politician. She added the Indonesian culture teaches humanitarian values that can be strong basic capital for life as a nation and country.
Role of mass organizations
The government has a big role to play in promoting a cultural strategy. However, its implementation would need the help of mass organizations that engage in direct contact with the people down at the grassroots level. A professor at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Purwo Santoso, said that all the elements of the nation, including mass organizations, must contribute to supporting the cultural strategy.
He gave the example of Nahdlatul Ulama, which played a role in reinforcing hubbul waton minal iman (love of the nation being a part of faith). Such teachings become part of a religious point of view that respects diversity and contains a patriotic political culture.
In this context, the job of the government is to provide space and resources for communication so that every organization has the power to develop a strong inter-group spirit. This is because social cohesion can only be strong if the crossover of identity and culture in Indonesia, which has been happening for a long time, can be maintained.
“The archipelago has the experience of being a meeting point for cultures and nations united by the slogan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity). This is an incredible bond that is currently being tested,” said the deputy chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama’s Indonesian Muslim Humanist and Artist Institution, Candra Malik.
He said that there is potential forfriction in Indonesia because the nation is still in the stage of searching for a shape. Therefore, solidity is needed to save Indonesia as a nation by holding onto its cultural roots and traditions. Furthermore, he also recommended a review of the way the different components of the nation communicate together.
“There is technological progress, but it is accompanied by a decline in civilization because the people of Indonesia are moving further apart from each other. Social media makes things that are close become far and things that are far become close,” he said.