Recent surveys in Indonesia found that the large majority of respondents stated that they were convinced that Pancasila is still the most ideal ideology for Indonesia.
The "inclusive" Pancasila ideology that was formulated at Indonesia's independence 65 years ago and applied until today, is still the best political system for the country. Because, adhering to Pancasila, the nation's religious and ethnic diversity are recognized and are allowed to exist in harmony side by side.
Most Indonesians do not favour adopting a strict Islamic system in which sharia laws would enforce the wearing of head-scarves for women or stoning for adultery. The overwhelming majority support the Five Pillars of Indonesia's State Ideology which was formulated by the country's founding fathers led by Soekarno in preparing Indonesia's Independence in the years prior to 1945.
This philosophical formulation was later incorporated as the "soul" of Indonesia's State Ideology as expressed in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. The Five Basic Principles of the State are: 1. Believe in the One True God. 2. Humanity, 3. The Unity of Indonesia, 4. Democratic decision-making through consensus among representatives and 5. Social Justice for All.
With the adoption of Pancasila, Indonesia, depite the fact that Indonesia's population was and is predominantly Muslim, nonetheless, is not an Islamic State. It is, however, also not a secular state in the strictest sense of the word, since the Constitution determines that Indonesians believe in the One God. In essence, Indonesia's state ideology stands for pluralism, inclusion, tolerance, moderation, democracy, justice and non-discriminination for all of its citizens.
With the arrival of the Reform Movement in 1997 and in the post-Soeharto years, the Pancasila ideology was considered to be anti-Reform as Soeharto had reaffirmed the ideology to deny the existence of communism, western-style liberal democracy and fanatical religious teachings. During the following years of Reform and transition to democracy, however, Pancasila gained ground again among the silent majority.
The majority of Indonesian Muslims have long been more orientated to pluralism and nationalism. In three general elections (in 1955, 1999, 2004 and 2009) the winning political party has always been one that is based on nationalism rather than on one specific religion.Furthermore, Indonesia's two largest Muslim civil organisations, the Nadhlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah embrace Pancasila.
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
