National Character Building in the third Millenium Era: A Challenge

• Main Author: Partini, Partini
• Format: Article PeerReviewed
• Language: English
• Published: Universitas Sebelas Maret 2012
• Subjects: Nationalism
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/32643/1/south_Asean.pdf; https://repository.ugm.ac.id/32643/; http://uns.ac.id
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

Every nation, including Indonesia, has its own specific national character that distinguishes it from other nations. Indonesia, is a large, multiethnic, religiously pluralistic as well as multi language archipelagic nation, which since the declaration of the Oath of the Youth on October 28, 1928, has become a multicultural unitary nation. The country adopted Pancasila along with Bhineka Tunggal Ika or unity in diversity as the national philosophy and emblem. However, the rising tide of globalization which poses the danger of homogenizing virtually all aspects of human life implies that national character is under serious threat. This is the more so, given the rapid development in ICT as the lynchpin of globalization, has blurred geographical boundaries and transcended space and time, creating a cyber society. Smartphone has become a favorite gadget for the young generation, on who future leadership of this nation belongs. Immersed in the “gadget society”, the cyber social community pays little attention to its social environment in the real World. Consequently, the behavior of the young has become apathetic, indifferent, and even antisocial at times, a social syndrome which some pundits have called social autism. There is little doubt that If Indonesian young generation continue along the social autistic path national character, which the founding fathers of the nation strove strenuously to build and preserve will be in jeopardy. In light of that, there is need to support efforts toward preserving national character to ensure that this country receives respect and dignity it deserves among other nations in the World. The contemporary world and civilization mean that we live in a cyber world. To that end, providing guidance to the young generation in forming national character does not call for society to develop technology paranoia. On the contrary, technology should facilitate the forging of national unity as well as help in revitalizing nationalism, which is one of the defining characteristics of this nation. Key Words: Nationalism, Globalization, Cyber world, Character building.