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Seeking “Unity in Diversity”: Contemporary Children’s Books in Indonesia

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Asian Children’s Literature and Film in a Global Age

Part of the book series: Asia-Pacific and Literature in English ((APLE))

Abstract

Since its independence in 1945, Indonesia has adopted a national motto of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Sanskrit for “unity in diversity”) to address its diverse ethnicities, religions, and languages. Nevertheless, expressions of diversity have primarily been sacrificed in the name of unity, particularly under the authoritarian regime of General Suharto. After the regime’s collapse in 1998, the archipelago experienced an awakening to the significance of acknowledging its diversity, yet ethnic and religious conflicts have also significantly increased. Against this backdrop, Indonesian children’s literature has emerged as a site of contestation amidst the societal tension. An examination of selected books through the lens of critical multicultural analysis reveals that such literature becomes “a safe space” for children from different backgrounds to have meaningful dialogues and exercise their agency.

“Unity in Diversity” is the literal translation of the national motto of Indonesia: “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Herdiana Hakim

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  1. Herdiana Hakim
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Correspondence to Herdiana Hakim .

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  1. Tokyo, Japan

    Bernard Wilson

  2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Sharmani Patricia Gabriel

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Hakim, H. (2020). Seeking “Unity in Diversity”: Contemporary Children’s Books in Indonesia. In: Wilson, B., Gabriel, S. (eds) Asian Children’s Literature and Film in a Global Age. Asia-Pacific and Literature in English. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2631-2_12

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