ABSTRACT
Modern Indonesia, a multiethnic nation-state, was a product of the Indonesian nationalist movement, which emerged in the twentieth century under Dutch colonial rule. The movement eventually united the country’s diverse ethnic groups (including ethnic Chinese) and formed an Indonesian nation-state. There were a few ethnic separatist movements that were quelled by the central government, and the existing Papua separatist movement is weak. Although the secular ideology as reflected in Pancasila has been dominant, various Islamic ideologies have at times posed a challenge to the national ideology and national unity. The position of ethnic Chinese in the Indonesian nation has greatly improved. The indigenous-based Indonesian nation concept has been officially abandoned by the government since the fall of Soeharto, and ethnic Chinese have been welcome to join the Indonesian nation. However, prejudice against the ethnic Chinese, although diminished, continues.
