Societies, communities and nation-state:marginal societies and communities within the cultural scope of Indonesia

Abstract

The growth of the Nusantara societies is the product of a long process of integration between local and external values. The local traditional values are integrative in nature and therefore it has become the fundamental framework for all aspects of societal life. This is the bond that binds the tribal communities together to form the Indonesian Nation-State. Pancasila is the crystallization of all the dimensions of Indonesian life. It is not only an ideology for the Nation- State, but also the source and an ideal mould for traditional arts, recreations, architecture, textile, traditional technology and societal norms. Local cultures have a role to play in the formation of regional culture. The regional culture on the other hand integrate with other traditions to form the National Culture. The contribution and strong ties among the local cultures, in the formation of the National Cultural System, have become the motivating force in the implementation of Pancasila. The traditional values form the basis for all cultural orientations that spread into the lives of Indonesians today.