Culture Diversity in the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for

Sustainable Development in Indonesia: The Implication to Binus

University

Aryusmar

Language Center, Computer Science Department, Faculty of Humanities, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia

11480

Keywords: Culture Diversity, Bhineka Tunggal Ika, Sustainable Development

Abstract: Culture diversity defined as cultural richness and awareness refer to the symbolic meaning, artistic dimension,

and cultural values that must be maintained, preserved and developed as one of Indonesia's resources.

Development in Indonesia has many opportunities, in terms of cultural capacity, and diversity as it is

recognized in the orientation of SDGs. However, the abundant cultural diversity found in Indonesia must have

a unifying tool as the national motto to promote tolerance for all Indonesian people. This is because

sustainable development will not happen if there is no harmony between cultural diversity. Therefore, it

concluded that culture diversity in the frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika found that can bring harmony and

solidarity among cultural diversity in Indonesia to implement the sustainable development in accordance with

their respective cultural philosophy. This study implied that Binus University must promote students as agents

of change to carry out the value of cultural diversity in the frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for the realization

of sustainable development in Indonesia.

1 INTRODUCTION

Cultural diversity in Indonesia is something that

cannot be denied. With its cultural diversity,

Indonesia can be said to have advantages compared

to other countries. Indonesia has a complete and

varied portrait of culture. And no less important, in

terms of socio-cultural and political Indonesian

society has a historical fabric of the dynamics of inter-

cultural interactions that were strung together long

ago. Inter-cultural interaction is woven not only

between different ethnic groups, but also includes the

civilizations in the world.

On the other hand, cultural diversity is a challenge

as well as an opportunity for the people of Indonesia.

It is a challenge because if not managed and handled

properly then cultural diversity will be able to

encourage the emergence of competition and social

disagreement. We must realize that the life of

Indonesian society is very diverse in ethnicity and

culture. The diversity of tribes and cultures will have

a negative impact, in the form of inter-cultural

conflict, if not really handled appropriately.

Furthermore, the cultural diversity of the entire

nation of Indonesia is always appointed to live

peacefully in a society of different tribes, nations,

races, factions. We are invited to understand, to live

and to live together towards the creation of unity and

the united motto "Bhineka Tunggal Ika".

Understanding diversity in togetherness is the initial

attitude to guard the Unitary State of the Republic of

Indonesia. Failure to understand diversity will give

rise to discrimination, sectarianism, radicalism,

terrorism and division within the Republic of

Indonesia

On the other hand, sustainable development is a

process that is carried out continuously in an area

from time to time in order to achieve improvement of

life and welfare, both from the material and non-

material side. For the Indonesian nation, the

development process is a planned activity to achieve

the national goal as mandated by the Preamble to the

1945 Constitution, which is among others to promote

general welfare. Welfare indicators are not only

limited to the economic and materialistic aspects, but

also the aspects of harmony and togetherness of

national life in dignity.

174

Aryusmar, .

Culture Diversity in the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for Sustainable Development in Indonesia: The Implication to Binus University.

DOI: 10.5220/0010004500002917

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences, Laws, Arts and Humanities (BINUS-JIC 2018), pages 174-178

ISBN: 978-989-758-515-9

In this case, various phenomena of violence that

spread in many places in the territory of the Republic

of Indonesia became the alarm of multidimensional

crisis as a "mirror image" culture diversity faced by

nations. In order to face the turmoil and the current

reality happens in Indonesia that threatens the

paradigm of Bhineka Tungga Ika; therefore, it needs

a breakthrough of thought that is able to empower

people with their differences.

2 METHOD

The research method is a descriptive-qualitative

research with interpretive-exploratory using a

literature study. The data from the internet became the

main source of information. Then, the researcher

develops the existing data and information from the

source by adding further information based on

observations, hypotheses and idea development of

existing materials. This study aims at analyzing

cultural diversity in the frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika

for Sustainable Development in Indonesia. The

research questions of this study as follows: The first,

what is the theoretical bases of Culture Diversity,

Bhineka Tunggal Ika, and Sustainable Development?;

The second, what is the strength, weakness,

opportunity and challenge of culture diversity in

sustainable development?; The third, how significant

is to build awareness of Culture Diversity in the

Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for Sustainable

Development in Indonesia?; The fourth, what is the

implication to Binus University?; Finally, the

research found that the conceptual framework of

Culture Diversity in the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal

Ika for Sustainable Development in Indonesia and the

Implication to Binus University.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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Publishers, it is necessary that Authors provide

formal written Consent to Publish and Transfer of

Consent ensures that the publisher has the Author’s

authorization to publish the Contribution.

3.1 What Is the Theoretical Bases of

Cultural Diversity, Bhineka

Tunggal Ika, and Sustainable

Development

3.1.1 The Theoretical Bases of Cultural

Diversity

If we refer to the 2005 UNESCO convention, 2005

(Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the

Diversity of Cultural Expressions) about cultural

diversity, cultural diversity is defined as cultural

wealth that is seen as a way in the culture of a group

or society to express its expression. This is not only

related to cultural diversity that is the background

culture, but also the variety of ways in artistic

creation, production, dissemination, distribution and

appreciation, whatever the meaning and technology

used. Therefore, cultural diversity can be defined as

cultural richness which is seen as a way in the culture

of a group or society to express its expression. The

contents of cultural diversity will refer to the

symbolic meaning, artistic dimension, and cultural

values that lie behind it.

3.1.2 The Theoretical Bases of Bhineka

Tunggal Ika

The motto "Bhineka Tunggal Ika or Unity in

Diversity" was first revealed by Mpu Tantular, the

great poet of the Majapahit kingdom who lived during

the reign of King Hayamwuruk, in the XIV century

(1350-1389). Motto which was then used as a

principle in the life and government of the Majapahit

kingdom was to anticipate the diversity of religions

embraced by the Majapahit people at that time. Even

though they are different in religion but they remain

one in service.

In this case, Bhineka Tunggal Ika has a concept as

the foundation of culture diversity. Culture diversity

is simply the recognition of cultural pluralism.

Cultural pluralism is not a given but a process of

internalizing values within a community (Tilaar,

2004). Determination of Bhineka Tunggal Ika as

Pillar of Nation and Incarnation of the unity of nation

and state of Indonesia has been concluded in the PP.

No. 66 of 1951, October 17, promulgated on 28

November 1951, and contained in the State Gazette

no. II in 1951. The significance of Bhineka Tunggal

Ika is that although the Indonesian nation and state

are composed of various ethnic groups that have

different cultures and customs and various islands of

Indonesian state territory, but the whole is a unity that

is the nation and state of Indonesia.

Culture Diversity in the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for Sustainable Development in Indonesia: The Implication to Binus University

175

Therefore, Bhineka Tunggal Ika means that unity

in diversity in the context of diversity does not only

refer to the diversity of ethnic groups but to the

cultural context for sustainable development in

Indonesia

3.1.3 The Theoretical Bases of Sustainable

Development

According to the Brundland Report of the United

Nations 1987 sustainable development is a principled

development process (land, city, business,

community, etc.) "Meeting present needs without

compromising future generations' needs". One of the

factors that must be faced in achieving sustainable

development is how to improve environmental

destruction without sacrificing the need for economic

development and social justice.

On the other hand, the concept of sustainable

development was then popularized through the

WCED report (WCED report, 1987 ) entitled "Our

Common Future" published in 1987. This report

defines Sustainable Development as a development

that meets the needs of the current generation without

diminishing the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs.

Elliot, 2006 mentions that the challenge of

sustainable development today lies in the nature and

form of production, and consumption that exists in the

world today. In addition, the UNESCO report on the

Global Report on Culture for Sustainable Urban

Development is a sustainable development formula

which inclusively places culture as a central part of

future development. "Culture lies at the heart of urban

renewal and innovation" (UNESCO in Culture Urban

Future, 2016). Perceptions in the concept of urban

development (city) in a sustainable, is seen not

partially off with what is called culture. With the

conclusion, that imagining the future development

should be juxtaposed with cultural diversity

knowledge capacity.

Therefore, cultural diversity in sustainable

development for Indonesia nation is imagined as the

heart of urban development, in the process of

integrating prosperity, justice and eliminating gaps.

Promotion of cultural and creative industry, for

example, becomes a strategic value for Indonesia.

Cultural development in Indonesia is an opportunity

to be seized, because so many heritage traditions are

owned.

3.2 The Strength, Weakness,

Opportunity and Challenge of

Culture Diversity for Sustainable

Development in Indonesia

3.2.1 The Strength of Cultural Diversity in

Sustainable Development

Cultural values embedded within Indonesian society

are a tremendous strength and need to be well

utilized, among others: (1) Indonesia's cultural

diversity is highly variable, unique and complete

because it is influenced by the natural state with

different geographical conditions, flora and fauna

between the western part of Indonesia, Central and

East. (2) the uniqueness and distinctiveness of local

culture ranging from kinship system, social ethics,

traditional clothing, traditional house, traditional

dance, traditional musical instruments, traditional

weapons, language and dialect, instruments and

songs, knowledge of medicine and culinary

knowledge. is something that attracts the views of

other nations who want to learn, try, enjoy and even

have local cultural results in Indonesia. (4) The work

of culture in the form of objects such as woven, batik,

carving, wicker and others sought by the tourists as a

souvenir. One of Indonesia's cultural works of batik

is increasingly known to the world in line with

advances in information technology. Since the

inauguration of batik as world heritage by the United

Nations in 2009, the impact of batik production

increased so as to affect the absorption of manpower

and welfare of the community. Thus batik becomes a

means of solidarity of unity and unity among the

tribes in Indonesia, because batik craft not only

belongs to the tribe of Java but also other tribes in

Indonesia. (5) Other cultural works in the form of

building art, dance, literature, music and other

cultural diversity can create foreign exchange as one

of the strengths in tourism as well as employment

opportunities for the people of Indonesia.

3.2.2 Weakness of Cultural Diversity in

Sustainable Development

Inadequate understanding and limited intercultural

communication triggered conflict with ethnic,

religious and racial backgrounds. Even diversity is

used by provocateurs as a means of provoking

problems. The process of relationships between

different tribes and classes has the potential for

hidden sources of conflict. According to

(Koentjaraningrat, 1997) there are at least 5 kinds of

triggers of conflict that is: (a) if the citizens of two

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tribes each compete in obtaining the same livelihood

field of life; (b) if a citizen of one tribe tries to impose

its cultural elements on other ethnic citizens; (c) if the

citizens of one tribe impose their religious concepts

on the citizens of other tribes; (d) if one ethnic group

tries to dominate another tribe politically; (e) in the

relationship between indigenous tribal peoples.

3.2.3 Opportunity of Cultural Diversity in

Sustainable Development

Indonesia's cultural diversity is the following

opportunities: (1) unifying among ethnic and tribal

groups united by past experience in the face of

invaders; (2) is a force for a pluralistic nation to exist.

This requires communication and interaction that can

make members of the Indonesian people work

together and have a correct understanding of the

different cultural elements. As a means of

communication and interaction language is needed to

adhesive among members of the community.

Indonesian becomes an opportunity to build and

develop a diverse culture of tribes in togetherness and

unity. The use of the Indonesian language as a means

of communication between tribes does not mean to

eliminate the local language, but easier for someone

to know and respond to the environment better, and

generate awareness continuous connections

continuously. This is expected to revive local ethnic

and cultural Indonesian nation.

3.2.4 Challenge of Cultural Diversity in

Sustainable Development.

The consequences of the broad nationalist

conception, Indonesia must also be able to anticipate

the threat posed by globalization. The wider stream of

globalization, in its penetration, and in high caliber,

each country faces not only the potential for pluralism

explosions from within, but also the pressure of

diversity from the outside. Entering the beginning of

the new millennium, there are rapid, guaranteed, and

fundamental changes in the social and community life

and society. In this case, the things that need to be

done are: (1) the sincere willingness of all ethnic

groups in Indonesia to be heterogeneous in nature, to

move towards a pattern of interpersonal social

relationships that are tolerant and willing to accept the

facts to coexist peacefully with each other with

differences the inherent distinction of each social and

political being. (2) it is necessary to be able to

accommodate differences and diversity in a single

bond based on the principles of human rights and

democracy to realize the greatness of Indonesian

culture.

3.3 The Significance of Building

Awareness of Culture Diversity in

the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika

for Sustainable Development in

Indonesia

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika should be the foundation for an

environment where people of different ethnicities,

cultures and religious backgrounds can come

together, challenge each other's ideas, learn new

perspectives, be enriched, grow as individuals, and

eventually come to understand that their differences

are their strength; that diversity in Indonesia can be

the essence of its excellence. It is also the unifying

tool of the nation. For that we must really understand

its meaning. Unity in diversity has a very important

meaning. Unity in diversity must be understood by

every citizen in order to realize the following: (1). A

harmonious, harmonious and balanced life; (2).

Interrelationship is more intimate; (3). Differences

are not the source of the problem; and (4).

Development goes well.

Furthermore, history proves that culture in

Indonesia is able to live side by side, complement

each other, or run in parallel. For example, the

kingdom or royal culture that stands in parallel with

the hunting culture is gathering certain groups of

people. In the present context, we can find out how

the culture of urban society can run parallel with rural

or rural culture, even with the culture of hunting

gatherings that live far away.

In this case, the solid diversity of Indonesia and

the strength of the glue of our nation's unity can only

be achieved by maturing a frame of diversity that

integrates all aspects of the values, knowledge and

skills of human life in a multicultural Indonesian

society. These intercultural relations can be

interwoven in the frame of "Bhineka Tunggal Ika or

Unity in Diversity", where we can mean that the

context of diversity does not only refer to the diversity

of ethnic groups but to the cultural context for

sustainable development in Indonesia.

3.4 What is the Implication to Binus

University?

The increasing number of Binus University students

coupled with the diversity of ethnicity, ethnicity and

religion in Indonesia will certainly create a diverse

environment. This will certainly be challenging in

how a student can interact with friends who have

different ethnic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds

than themselves. However, this will not be a serious

Culture Diversity in the Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for Sustainable Development in Indonesia: The Implication to Binus University

177

problem as long as the students can always cling to

the state slogan that reads "Bhineka Tunggal Ika or

Unity in Diversity" which means different but one.

In Campus life it is expected that the term of

majority and minority can be avoided because

students are considered as intellectuals who do not

judge people only from culture, ethnic, and religious

backgrounds. However, there are still many students

who act in the name of their group and then credit

other students who are not part of their group. A

simple example is by mocking the accent speaking of

others who are affected by their regional language.

To prevent these things, it is necessary to

reinvent the spirit of Bhineka Tunggal Ika in the

minds of each student. For this reason, Binus

University can make activities outside the classroom

that encourage a student forum to explore and give

their opinions a culture diversity, Bhineka Tunggal

Ika and sustainable development. This aims to open

the eyes of students to be able to see from the

perspective of other cultures so as to avoid

misunderstanding or prejudice on each student.

Therefore, Binus University students must be

able to spread the value of Bhineka Tunggal Ika

among groups. This is inseparable from the role of

students as agents of change in sustainable

development who must be able to bring messages of

solidarity in the community and strengthen relations

or brotherhood among Indonesian citizens.

Therefore, students must be promoters to carry out the

value of cultural diversity in the frame of Bhineka

Tunggal Ika for the realization of sustainable

development in Indonesia.

3.5 Research Finding

From all the above explanations it is found that the

conceptual framework of this research finding as

follows:

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of Culture Diversity in the

Frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for Sustainable

Development in Indonesia and the Implication to

University.

4 CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that culture diversity defined as

cultural richness and awareness refer to the symbolic

meaning, artistic dimension, and cultural values that

must be maintained, preserved and developed as one

of Indonesia's resources. Development in Indonesia

has many opportunities, in terms of cultural capacity,

and diversity as it is recognized in the orientation of

SDGs. However, the abundant cultural diversity

found in Indonesia must have a unifying tool as the

national motto to promote tolerance for all Indonesian

people. This is because sustainable development will

not happen if there is no harmony between cultural

diversity. Therefore, it concluded that culture

diversity in the frame of Bhineka Tunggal Ika found

that can bring harmony and solidarity among cultural

diversity in Indonesia to implement the sustainable

development in accordance with their respective

cultural philosophy. This study implied that Binus

University must promote students as agents of change

to carry out the value of cultural diversity in the frame

of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for the realization of

sustainable development in Indonesia.

REFERENCES

UNESCO Convention 2005 Online

Unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001429/142919e.pd

Tilaar H A R 2004 Kekuatan dan Pendidikan (Jakarta:

Grasindo)

Brundland Report of the United Nations 1987 Online

https://www.sustainable

development2015.org/.../index.../92-our-common-

future

WCED report 1987 Our Common Future Online

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Common_Future.

Accessed on June 15, 2018

Elliot J A 2006 Introduction to Sustainable Development

(New York: Routledge)

UNESCO in Culture Urban Future 2016 Online

www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/.../culture.../culture-

for-sustainable-urban-developme

Koentjaraningrat 1997 Kebudayaan Mentalitas dan

Pembangunan (Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama)

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