Indonesia is a hugely diverse nation.
. It is made up of over 17,500 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited) which are home to over 300 ethnic groups.
. Each province has its own language, ethnic make-up, religions and history.
. Most people will define themselves locally before nationally.
. In addition there are many cultural influences stemming back from difference in heritage. Indonesians are a mix of Chinese, European, Indian, and Malay.
. Although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world it also has a large number of Christian Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists.
. This great diversity has needed a great deal of attention from the government to maintain a cohesion.
. As a result the national motto is "Unity in Diversity", the language has been standardised and a national philisophy has been devised know as "Pancasila" which stresses universal justice for all Indonesians.
Group Thinking
. Due to the diverse nature of Indonesian society there exists a strong pull towards the group, whether family, village or island.
. People will define themselves according to their ethnic gourp, family and place of birth.
. The family is still very traditional in structure.
. Family members have clearly defined roles and a great sense of interdependence.