Religion and Democratic Pluralism: The Indonesian Model

May 18, 2017

Indonesia has over 250 million people. Its territory comprises of more than 13.400 islands which are inhabited by more than 1100 tribes which speak more than 730 active languages and dialects. The major world religions are practiced Indonesia. Islam comprises 88% of the population making Indonesia the largest Muslim country in the world. Yet, in their recent transition to democratic governance the Indonesian people rejected the establishment of Indonesia as an Islamic state, and embraced, guided by the foundational philosophy Pancasila (Five principles), pluralism and moderation.