Indonesia in the Pacific Community,
Abstract
Indonesia has the potential of becoming a major regional power in the southwestern Pacific. It has a population of about 140 million now, which may increase to 300 million in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. Despite great linguistic and ethnic diversity, Indonesia is and will remain one nation, due to the wise decision of its first generation of nationalist leaders in 1928 to adopt one, universally accepted, national language and to work hard toward overcoming regionalism, guided by the national motto 'Unity in Diversity.' Today, the unitary Republic of Indonesia is ruled by the nationalist military and civilian leaders of the 'Generation of 1945,' whose struggle for independence in the years of their youth has given them an understandable sense of self-confidence and national pride. In discussing the future role of Indonesia in a Pacific Community, it is therefore appropriate to ask whether Indonesia's sense of 'manifest destiny' is likely to be compatible with the growth of a community of nations, of which some are small in population and poorly endowed with natural resources.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA095427
Entities
People
- Guy J. Pauker
Organizations
- RAND Corporation