As outlined in the Introduction, the Constitution of the Republic of
Indonesia, as drawn up in 1945, and incorporating the Pancasila (state
ideology), forms the basis of cultural activities.
In Article 32 of the Constitution it is explicitly stated that ‘the
Government shall develop the National Culture of Indonesia’. Further
examination of this article reveals that ‘the National Culture of Indonesia’
consists of the following:
National culture is the culture that emerges as a product of the minds of all the
Indonesian peoples. Earlier and indigenous cultures as represented by the local
cultures all over Indonesia are a definite part of national culture. Cultural
endeavours shall be aimed at developing civilization, culture and (national)
unity, without denying novel elements from foreign cultures which may develop
or enrich national culture as such and improve the human dignity of the
Indonesian nation.