World on Wednesdays
“Indonesia, the Improbable Nation: Bringing 聽together Language, Ethnic, and Religious Diversity”
Wednesday, Mar. 2nd, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Student Life Center, LL 1 & 2 – Open to the Public
Food and refreshments will be provided
Have you heard of Bali? Do you know that it is actually 聽just one of the many islands in the Republic of Indonesia?Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world, consisting of 聽17,508 islands, 6 religions, around 300 distinct native ethnic groups, 聽and 742 different languages and dialects. It is home to the largest modern 聽matriarchal society in the world. The country has the largest Muslim 聽population in the world, yet it is not an Islamic country. 聽What holds this improbable nation together and what challenges does it face?
Rany Octaria will present on how Indonesia fosters the incorporation of 聽diversity into the daily lives, education system, and government of the 聽country. This presentation will use the perspective of a native, as well as 聽ideas from the book Indonesia, Etc. by Elizabeth Pisani. The aim of this 聽presentation is to expand the insight of researchers, students, and the 聽public to invigorate research about Indonesia and to simply raise awareness 聽of the what makes Indonesia unique.
Sponsored by: International Student and Scholar Services
Contact: Derrick Stevens, isss@vanderbilt.edu