Plan Cultural Strategy

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

A farmer cycles on a part of the future Batang-Semarang toll road in Gringsing, Batang, Central Java, on Monday (22/5). This section of the toll road is expected to be in operation 10 days before the peak of Lebaran celebration to help reduce the density of traffic.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The weakening social cohesion related to a widening economic gap cannot be overcome by mere economic policy. Indonesia also needs a guide for cultural strategy and decide the direction the country will take and what it will be in the long run.

The weakening of social cohesion was reflected in the results of a Litbang Kompas survey, which involved 512 respondents in 14 big cities in Indonesia on May 17 to 19. In the survey, many respondents said they see a decline in social solidarity, tolerance between ethnicities and tolerance between other groups in Indonesia. A number of parties feel that one of the factors that contributed to the loosening social cohesion is the widening social economic gap (Kompas, 22/5).