Selasa, 11 November 2014

Young people rejuvenate nationalism, without the propaganda

Young people rejuvenate nationalism,

without the propaganda

Diatyka Widya Permata Yasih  ;  A researcher at the LabSosio (Center for Sociological Studies),
School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Indonesia
JAKARTA POST,  10 November 2014
                                                
                                                                                                                       


Many believe that nationalism among the younger generations is on the decline. The young are fascinated with popular foreign culture, like songs, movies, fashion products and lifestyles, which seems to indicate they have lost their love for this nation.

The global music industry has indeed attracted a following among Indonesian youth. The young eagerly consume foreign music, making them a significant fan base for foreign bands and artists.

There is also a tendency for the young to trust and prefer foreign products with globally recognized brands that aggressively penetrate the Indonesian market.

They idolize and follow foreign celebrities’ lifestyles, combine Indonesian and English and prefer traveling on international routes instead of to domestic destinations.

Yet some youth have used foreign influence to refashion and reinterpret Indonesian cultural expressions, bringing forward some sort of “contemporary” nationalism.

Contemporary nationalism has been pioneered by a new generation of young trendsetters. Former MTV presenter Daniel Mananta established his own clothing line, named “DAMN! I Love Indonesia,” comprising hip and trendy graphic T-shirts.

Musicians like rock band Cokelat created Bendera (Flag), a hit single that sold thousands of records. Another rock band, Netral, created another patriotic song entitled Garuda di Dadaku (Eagle on My Chest).

Young entrepreneurs have also been trying to redefine the meaning of nationalism for the 21st century, while seeking alternative means to earn income and enjoy creative fulfillment.

Most of them sell good made-in-Indonesia food, cosmetics, handicrafts, clothing and accessories, attempting to refashion various forms of heritage. One example is by designing casual-wear shirts that incorporate batik elements that give the venerable Indonesian textile a fresh, youth-oriented use.

Other youths initiated independent projects to promote local tourism, from establishing blogs and websites to share travel experiences to organizing trips around Indonesia and historical places like museums.

Again, they seek to express their love for Indonesia and persuade other youth to join them.

A couple of factors may have contributed to the shift in the way the young express nationalism. The patriotic expressions of their seniors are considered obsolete.

In the struggle against colonialism, the older generation fashioned nationalism into a political vehicle that accommodated various parties from diverse socio-economic and geographical backgrounds to achieve an independent nation-state.

During the New Order regime, the state zealously established several nationalism projects designated for the young, like obliging all students to participate in flag ceremonies every Monday morning and making compulsory subjects like “Pancasila moral education” and, later on, “Pancasila and citizenship education”.

The idea of nationalism taught in schools though flag ceremonies and compulsory subjects is part of the New Order education system, which for the young is boring and a path of little meaning.

For the youth of today, national identity is needed to maintain their roots in the globalized world. The young sense a strong need to follow global trends and to feel modern and contemporary.

Hence, they still need to express love for the nation. They also feel the importance of promoting the diverse and resource-rich Indonesia to the world with the bonus of economic benefit.

This is because the market has received their creative nationalist-inspired products.

Social media has played a significant role in facilitating the rise and growth of this contemporary nationalism. Some of the young feel their global friends see them as coming from a poor and even backward country. As such they feel the need to show the nation’s beauty and how Indonesian youth can be trendy, fashionable and hip without losing their roots.

Social media has also better facilitated young people in creative learning, creation and sharing and also in researching global trends and local traditions.

Rather than the mandatory routines and propaganda of the New Order, contemporary nationalism has evoked a voluntarily patriotic spirit among the younger generations.

As such, it is important for the government, civil society, and other parties to take this youthful nationalism seriously, to unite diverse initiatives, expand its scope and reach a bigger goal.

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