SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF INDONESIANS

The behavior of Indonesian people is influenced by its society, culture, and politics.

SOCIETY OF INDONESIA

(1) The Republic of Indonesia was established in 1945, with declared jurisdiction extending from Sabang in Sumatra to Merauke in Papua, or the entire former Dutch (or Netherlands) East Indies. Even though the Netherlands retained control of a large portion of this region (including Papua), the revolution's stronghold established a provisional capital in Yogyakarta.

(2) With the end of the independence struggle in 1949, the Republic of the United States of Indonesia was established.

(3) However, the federal system did not last. The federated governments unanimously decided in 1950 to return to a “unitary”—or more centralized—form of government and the name Republic of Indonesia. A presidential decree reinstated the 1945 constitution after some difficulties. Although some significant amendments were made during a period of reforms (reformation) around the turn of the twenty-first century, this constitution has remained the foundation of Indonesia's government.

INDONESIAN CULTURE

Indonesia has a diverse range of cultural practices and products. The remote interior regions of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and western New Guinea have ritualized speech and local epic narrative traditions. In contrast, the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana heavily influence Java and Bali’s visual and performing arts. The melodic calls to prayer emanating from mosques, many of which have a distinctly Muslim architectural style, coexist in cities with the flashing lights and vibrant sounds of urban popular culture. These are just a few examples of Indonesia's incredibly diverse heritage.

In many parts of Indonesia, particularly in Java, Sumatra, and Bali, the specter of long-gone Hindu-Buddhist empires lingers. Extensive temple complexes (candi) were built in central Java from the 8th to the 10th centuries CE. Most of these were buried or in ruins, but the government has actively worked to restore them. The Shaivite temple of the Diyeng (Dieng) Plateau, the first of the great central Javanese monuments, dates from the early 8th century. The Shailendra dynasty built the great Mahayana Buddhist monuments, including Borobudur, which ruled Java and Sumatra from the eighth to ninth centuries. The Hindu monuments around Prambanan were constructed by the kings of Mataram in the late ninth century. The complex, Prambanan Temple, comprises six main temples; the three largest ones along the west, dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, contain beautiful statues. The middle of the three smaller temples along the east includes a statue of Nandi, Shiva's bull. The main temples are richly decorated with stone carvings of gods and other heavenly beings, and relief panels depict the Ramayana.

(3) Between the tenth and sixteenth centuries, the archipelago's center of power shifted to eastern Java, and Buddhism merged with Hinduism, which later gave way to Islam. During this time, literature in old Javanese (Kawi) flourished, and several large temple complexes were built, none of which matched the grandeur of Borobudur or Prambanan. The most impressive complex is Panataran Temple near Blitar, built during the Majapahit empire's heyday in the 14th century. With the rise of Islam in the 15th and 16th centuries, the temples fell into disrepair, and Hindu culture shifted to Bali, where it still exists today.

(2) Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, is one of the world's finest Buddhist monuments. It is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Yogyakarta and rises to a height of about 115 feet (35 meters) from its square base, which measures 403 feet (123 meters) on each side. The monument comprises a lower structure of six square terraces (including the ground) and an upper frame of three circular terraces, which combine the ancient symbols of the circle for the heavens and the square for the earth. A staircase leads to the next level in the center of each side of the square terraces. Each level's inner wall has niches containing Buddha statues. The bas-reliefs on the inner walls and barriers depict stories from Buddhist teachings; many of the images represent stages of human life, progressing from the sensual stage at the bottom to the spiritual stage at the top. The circular terraces are unadorned but contain 72 bell-shaped stupas, each housing a Buddha statue. The main stupa, which stands 23 feet (7 meters) tall, is located in the center of the upper terrace. It is devoid of any statues, visual images, or relics of any kind.

Culture: RELIGION

Did you know that Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country?

Indonesia is home to an estimated 229 million Muslims. This represents 87.2% of Indonesia's 263 million people and around 13% of the world's Muslim population. In Indonesia, followers of Islma, often known as Muslims, are legally permitted to engage in "polygamy." Polygamy is the practice of marrying up to four women. The major reason for polygamy in a religious organization is to be able to produce more offspring, which implies that the male and his women are required to procreate as much as possible.

Culture: CEREMONY

There are numerous traditions and civilizations, and some of them are expressed through intriguing events such as:

Sekaten

The photograph under this text is a week-long Javanese traditional ritual, celebration, fair, and pasar malam celebrating Maulid, held yearly from the 5th to the 12th day of the Mulud month. It is generally held at Yogyakarta's northern alun-alun . This was originally used to promote Islamic Faith.

Yadnya Kasada(Kesada ceremony)

The image on the right side is also known as Kesedo. It is a traditional Hindu ceremony practiced by the Tenggerese, an ethnic subgroup of the Javanese. The ceremony is used to express gratitude to their gods, who they believe have bestowed benefits, plenty, and well-being on them.

Rambo Solo Ceremony

The image above is a death ritual. Toraja society is dedicated to honoring and delivering the souls of the deceased to the world of souls, or back to eternity with their ancestors at a resting place. It is, in fact, a funeral procession which travelers have been entertained by this ancient ceremony for many years.

Culture: ARTS AND CRAFT

Indonesian culture is rich and distinct in terms of art and craft. Each region has its own legacy that embodies the qualities of its place. For instance,

Batik solo, Surakarta

Known as the home of Indonesian batik, an Indonesian fabric with exquisite design.

Wayang Kulit ,Yogyakarta

Wayang (puppet), one of the world's finest storytelling traditions, has been designated by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Silver craft, Yogyakarta

A blending of Javanese culture with Hindu society brings a certain appeal to Yogyakarta's silver handicrafts, particularly those from the Kotagede district. Rings, brooches, horse carts, miniature bicycles, earrings, rickshaws, and other ornaments are among the silver

Handicrafts.

Ceramics, Klaten

Klaten Regency's one-of-a-kind and magnificent ceramic decorations have catapulted the Klaten region into the spotlight. Bayat, a sub-district area in Klaten's southern region, has established a reputation for discovering tilted rotation techniques to make ceramics and pottery items ranging from patterned jars, animal-shaped ceramic pottery, and human sculptures to cooking furnaces.

Wood carvings, Bali

An traditional Bali art form that is an essential element of temples and residences is also utilized as a display or as a memento. Sculptures and wood carvings may be seen all across the island because they are inextricably linked to the Balinese way of life.

Tenun Ikat, Sumba

One of the most well-known fabrics in Indonesia. This bright handcraft contains a variety of themes and symbols. Many Sumba village people have dedicated their lives to weaving Tenun Ikat.

(1) Indonesia is divided into 30 Propinsi, or provinces, plus the two daerah istimewa (special districts) of Yogyakarta in central Java and Aceh in northern Sumatra and the Daerah khusus ibukota (special capital district) of Jakarta, known as Jakarta Raya. On the smaller islands, most administrative regions were established to correspond with traditional areas, defined mainly by natural geographic features; on the larger islands, administrative boundaries were established to simplify complex traditional and cultural divisions. For example, Central Java (Jawa Tengah) encompasses the core of the island of Java and the core of Javanese culture. Within the province's borders are the semiautonomous special district of Yogyakarta and the city of Surakarta (Solo), both of which are historical court centers where traditional rulers are still in power (albeit without real political power). Similarly, the provinces of West Java (Jawa Barat) and Banten in the western part of the island correspond to the Sundanese people's geographic, cultural, and linguistic terrain.

POLITICS OF INDONESIA

(2) Since the end of the twentieth century, the number of first-order political subdivisions has changed. East Timor (established as a province in 1976) achieved independence in 1999. Furthermore, due to the push to decentralize in the early twenty-first century, several new regions were formed from the existing structure. Banten (2000) was formed from the westernmost tip of West Java. West Papua (Papua Barat; 2006) was created from Papua's western end. North Kalimantan (Kalimantan Utara; 2012) was formed by the separation of East Kalimantan. Gorontalo (2000; government installed in 2001) on the northern peninsula and West Sulawesi (Sulawesi Barat; 2004) in the island's west-central coastal region were new provinces in Celebes. The Riau Islands (Kepulauan Riau; 2002; installed by the government in 2004) and Bangka Belitung (2000; established by the government in 2001) were formed from islands off Sumatra's eastern coast.

(3) More than 300 Kabupaten (regencies) are led by a bupati (governor) and legislature. Over 5,000 third-order divisions, kecamatan (districts), and a few dozen Kota (cities) have achieved autonomy. Direct local elections have been used to elect district and city leaders since 1999. Members of the Local Councils of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah), which deal with the national legislature more directly, are also elected at large.

Villages (kampung) and groups of villages (desa) in rural and urban areas serve as the district-level link between the people and the central government. Kampung and desa heads are usually elected in rural areas and appointed in urban areas; they are local government employees. A village typically has two levels of neighborhood organization: rukun warga (community association) and rukun tetangga (neighborhood council) (RT; neighborhood associations). These organizations elect their chairpersons.

Influence of society, culture, and politics on the social behaviour of Indonesians

There are cultural concepts from more incredible Asian culture that may be found all around Indonesia. Face, for example, is a feature that most Asian cultures associate with a person's reputation, power, dignity, and honor. You offer someone a face by complimenting them, showing them respect, or doing something to boost their self-esteem. People can also lose face, save face, or create the face. As a result, Indonesians tend to act intentionally and with restraint to safeguard their self-worth and peer perception. People don't want to stand out or lose face by acting up. Thus conservative behavior is the norm.

In Indonesia, harmony is also a guiding principle. It has an impact on many aspects of society, including family and business. Working together is seen as essential for productivity. Therefore Indonesians are prone to being indirect, soft, and courteous - even when they disagree with what you're saying.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority country. It is also the world's largest archipelago, with approximately 17,500 islands. Because of the islands' dispersal, various microcultures have emerged that are geographically peculiar. Furthermore, Indonesia is home to about 300 ethnic groups. The Javanese population (41%) is the largest, occupying the majority of the island of Java. Others include the Sundanese, Malay, Batak, Madurese, and Betawi peoples, among others. The languages, histories, and cultures of most ethnic groups are unique to them. As a result, Indonesians identify themselves locally first (based on ethnicity, family, or birthplace) before placing themselves nationally.

This comprehensive summary discusses the common principles and concepts that influence many Indonesians' attitudes and behavior. However, because Indonesians are so diverse, this overview will not apply to everyone. To completely comprehend an Indonesian's cultural influences, one must analyze their geographical, linguistic, and ethnic heritage. For example, one may see how dominant Indonesian culture reflects aspects of Javanese and Islamic society. Despite this, the Balinese people who live on the island of Bali are predominantly Hindu. They have their own set of rituals and traditions and a separate religious calendar from other ethnic groups.

Effects of the Indonesian citizens' social behavior to their country

Indonesian society is hierarchical, with age groups dominating. Degrees of deference will be demanded based on rank, education, and perceived power, but age is usually the determining factor. Elders are thought to possess the most incredible wisdom and are thus the most deserving of authority. When speaking to someone older than themselves, Indonesians may employ honorific speech and bow gently. Women enjoy complete civil rights; yet, the Islamic law that promotes gender separation is not strictly enforced in other Islamic countries. However, there remains a societal mentality that girls are second-class citizens.

In general, Indonesians are courteous people who appreciate being pampered and want to please others. They, on the whole, respond positively to those who treat them with respect and acknowledge them. By being warm, generous with your time, and visibly displaying that you like them, you will likely experience their enthusiasm and friendship.

Major Societal, Cultural, Political Changes

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