The Portuguese were the first Europeans to settle in Indonesia, establishing trade posts in order to transport the valuable spices such as nutmeg and cloves, back to Europe. However, a century later, under the auspices of the Dutch government, in 1609 the Dutch East India company 1619 moved in, establishing the city of Batavia (now Jakarta), running the trade routes, and eventually establishing colonial rule over the archipelago, engaging in several wars along the way.
The start of the 20th century saw the beginnings of an Indonesian independence movement form, with the largest, Sarekat Islam, gaining huge popularity, despite suppression from the Dutch colonial regime. Indeed, it was the Japanese invasion of Indonesia during WW2 which lead to the withdrawal of the Dutch. Whether life for Indonesians under Japanese rule fared better, depended very much on social positioning; it is estimated that 4m Indonesians died as a result of occupation. The subsequent surrender of Japan at the end of the war, lead the then-president Sukarno to pronounce Indonesia’s independence on 17 August 1945.
It was always going to be tricky for the founders of an independent Indonesia in the 1950s to stop this unwieldy and autonomous collection of kingdoms and sultanates from breaking apart. A national consciousness needed to be found, a sense of pride instilled and a national identity formed. To achieve this, a series of heroes was created, most of whom were lauded for their opposition to the Dutch. You can often find the names of these national heroes on banknotes and street signs, which still perpetuate their myths today.
Long-term president General Suharto, who was forced to resign in 1998 after decades of tight-fisted control of the country, also believed in the challenge of keeping the country together. However, he resorted to different methods, such as crushing dissent, keeping a close eye on political activity, and censorship of the media. Things have come along a long way since then and in 2004, Indonesia's first-ever direct presidential elections saw Megawati Sukarnoputri replaced by the new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who still presides over the country, having been re-elected in 2009. The president has identified the fight against terrorism as a key challenge, although thankfully the expected upsurge in Islamic radicalism, after terrorist bombings in Bali and Jakarta in 2002 to 2005, never materialised.
Today, Indonesia enjoys a period of stability and relative prosperity with the country having ducked the worst of the recent global economic crisis. Independence issues in Aceh (greatly improved since the 2005 peace deal) and Papua, natural disasters, such as frequent earthquakes, and potential terrorist activity all remain challenges for the government.
There is a Muslim majority of approximately 90%, with Christian, Hindu (mainly in Bali) and Buddhist minorities. Freedom of religion is enshrined in the constitution.
Social conventions:Social courtesies are often fairly formal. Using a few words of the local language will be appreciated. When drink or food is served, it should not be touched until the host invites the guest to do so. Never pass or accept anything with the left hand, as this is seen as unclean. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon, and kissing in public will attract a great deal of unwanted attention.
Touching a stranger of the same sex while in conversation is very common. Smiling is a cultural tradition and Indonesians smile frequently, even in an uncomfortable or difficult situation. Visitors should avoid losing their temper as saving face is very important in Indonesian culture; tourists should avoid putting others in a situation where they may feel embarrassed or ashamed. Both men and women should take care to dress in an appropriate way for their surroundings – whilst a more casual attitude may be fine in Bali, Aceh is rather more conservative and you may be expected to cover up a little more.
Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language. Altogether, there are an estimated 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. The older generation still speaks Dutch as a second language and English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
