Wawasan Nusantara

The image of a 9th-century ship on Borobudur bas relief, which argues for Indonesia's past as a regional maritime power.

In Indonesian history, the native ancient kingdoms that rose to become a regional hegemon are usually a thalassocracy; such as Srivijaya (7th to 12th century) and Majapahit (14th to 15th century).[11] This was much owed to the strategic location of Indonesian archipelago as the nexus of ancient global trade connecting two centers of Asian civilisations—ancient India and imperial China, involved actively in global spice trade, which was also the important part of ancient maritime silk road.

During the Dutch East Indies period, the Ordonantie (Dutch Law) 1939, mentioned about the determination of the territorial sea which was along the 3 nautical miles width by drawing along a base line based on the tidal or island contour. This provision creates international waters in many parts of the sea between Indonesian islands (e.g. in the center of Java Sea and Banda Sea) which was outside the national jurisdiction.

Indonesians shared a historical experiences of regional disunity, which must be avoided for the survival of the nation. This is because the national independence has been achieved through the spirit of unity among Indonesian people themselves. Thus, this spirit must be nurtured and maintained for national unity to preserve and protect territorial integrity of Indonesia.[12]

After the independence, Indonesia find itself as the custodian of world's main shipping lanes connecting Pacific Ocean with Indian Ocean, connecting East Asia with Middle East and Australia. Those main lanes are Malacca Strait, Karimata Strait, Sunda Strait, Makassar Strait, Lombok Strait and Ombai Strait. Sitting on the nexus of global maritime trade route has made Indonesian waters prone to be involved in global power struggle between global maritime powers. Thus, ensuring security of its territorial waters is a national priority.

On 13 December 1957, Indonesian Government announced Djuanda Declaration regarding the territorial waters of the Republic of Indonesia. In this declaration, the sea boundaries is no longer based on tidal lines, but on a straight base line measured from the outline connecting the outermost points of the islands which are included within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.[13] This erased international waters between Indonesian islands, thus increase the territorial waters. The determination of territorial waters are increased from 3 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as an International Law regime, in which the 200-mile archipelagic boundaries are measured from the baseline of Indonesian territorial waters. With the Djuanda Declaration, thus legally and formally Indonesia became a whole undivided unity of lands and waters.

A map in National Museum displaying ethnic distribution and diversity in Indonesia.

Indonesia consists of hundreds of ethnic groups, each of which has different customs, languages, religions, and belief systems. Naturally, that national life related to inter-group interactions, contains the potential for conflicts over such differences in cultural diversity.[12]

The geographic factor, its effects and influences, are the phenomenon that needs to be carefully examined, because Indonesia is rich in various natural resources as well as the diversity of its ethnic groups.[12]

The golden Garuda Pancasila in Monas bearing the symbols of Pancasila, the national ideology of Indonesia.

Pancasila values underlie the development of the wawasan nusantara concept. These values are:[12]

1. Implementation of human rights, such as freedom of religion; providing opportunities to practice worship in accordance with their respective religions.
2. Prioritising the interests of the whole larger society rather than those of individuals or groups.
3. Decision making based on deliberation to reach consensus.

There are several things that need to be considered in implementing the wawasan nusantara:[15]

1. The implementation of political life is regulated in laws, such as the Political Party Law, the Election Law, and the Presidential Election Law. The implementation of this law must be in accordance with the law and prioritize national unity. For example, in the presidential election, members of the DPR and regional heads must implement democratic principles and justice, so as not to destroy national unity.
2. The implementation of community and state life in Indonesia must be in accordance with applicable law. All Indonesians must have the same legal basis for every citizen, without exception. In Indonesia there are many legal products that can be issued by provinces and districts in the form of regional regulations (perda) that do not conflict with applicable national laws.
3. Developing human rights attitudes and pluralism attitudes to unite different ethnicities, religions, and languages, so as to foster an attitude of tolerance.
4. Strengthen political commitment to political parties and government institutions to enhance the spirit of nationalism, unity and unity.
5. Increasing the role of Indonesia in the international arena and strengthening the diplomatic corps as an effort to safeguard Indonesia's territory, especially the outer islands and uninhabited islands.

A pinisi tall masted sailing schooner, traditionally connects ports within Indonesian archipelago.

1. The archipelago has a high economic potential, such as the position of the equator, a vast sea area, large tropical forests, large mining and oil products, and has a population in sufficient numbers. Therefore, implementation in economic life must be oriented to the government, agriculture and industry sectors.
2. Economic development must pay attention to fairness and balance between regions. Therefore, the existence of regional autonomy can create efforts in economic justice.
3. Economic development must involve people's participation, such as by providing micro credit facilities in the development of small businesses.

Preserving cultural diversity to strengthen national identity as well as become a tourism attraction, such as the kecak dance in Bali.

Some things to consider in social and cultural life, namely:[15]

1. Developing a harmonious national life between different communities; in terms of culture, social status, and region. For example, with equal distribution of education in all regions and compulsory education programs which must prioritising disadvantaged regions.
2. Development of Indonesian culture, to preserve and nurture the cultural diversity of Indonesia, that can be employed as a tourism attraction that provide the economic value for the region. For example, with cultural preservation, museum and cultural sites development.

Building a professional TNI armed force is an implementation in the defense and security aspect.

Some things to consider in the defense and security aspect, namely:[15]

1. Defense and security development activities must provide an opportunity for every citizen to participate. Such activities such as maintaining a residential order, improving social discipline, reporting security matters to the authorities are the citizen's obligations.
2. Building a sense of national unity, so that the threat of an area or island is perceived as a threat to the whole nation. This sense of national unity can be created by building solidarity and close relations between citizens of different regions.
3. Building a professional TNI armed force and providing adequate facilities and infrastructure for security activities in the territory of Indonesia, especially the outer islands and border regions of Indonesia.