Soekarno and the Politics of Education: Ideology, Identity, and Development
Keywords:
Anti-Colonial Discourse, Critical Education Theory, Guided Democracy, Ideology, National IdentityAbstract
This study examines Soekarno’s political thought on education as an ideological instrument for shaping national identity and advancing postcolonial socio-economic development in Indonesia. While Soekarno is widely recognized as the nation’s founding father and first president, scholarly inquiry into his educational politics remains limited, particularly in connecting ideology, identity formation, and development agendas. Employing a qualitative approach with historical-critical discourse analysis, the research draws on speeches, writings, and official documents from 1945–1965, complemented by secondary literature in Indonesian educational history, political education theory, and postcolonial studies. Thematic analysis reveals that Soekarno perceived education not merely as a technical policy domain but as a political tool to integrate ethnic plurality, foster national consciousness, and mobilize citizens for nation-building. His discourse intertwined socialist-humanist ideals, anti-colonial narratives, and developmental aspirations within the framework of Guided Democracy. The novelty of this research lies in its interdisciplinary framework systematically linking ideology, identity, and development; its use of rarely examined archival sources; and its extension of critical education theory through the Indonesian case. The findings provide theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions to educational policy in pluralistic developing nations, highlighting the continuing relevance of Soekarno’s vision in addressing inequality, pluralism, and cohesive nation-building.
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