(CULTURAN ENVIRONMENT)
IMPLEMENTATION OF JAVANESE CULTURE (MUSYAWARAH and GOTONG ROYONG) in ECONOMICS ACTIVITIES Lecture: Prof. Dr. Djoko Suryo, MA.
Compiled by:
Widya Arie Susanti
09/296079/PEK/14685
Batch 54 International
MASTER OF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS GADJAH MADA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010
INTRODUCTION
Discussing Javanese culture is not easy, because it is so diverse and complex. Such a discussion could refer to language, way of life, ethics, performing arts, texts and more. This study focuses on the Javanese culture in terms of world-view, “the Javanese idea of the good life” as studied by Magnis-Suseno (1997). Because of the sheer size of the community, the homogeneity of its culture and their influence on the nation’s capital, Javanese culture influences the way of life of most Indonesians, and the Javanese dominate cultural, business, social and political activities in Indonesia (Mann 1996; Magnis-Suseno 1997). The Javanese have a complex code of etiquette and respect, reflected in the Javanese language. However, the maintenance of inner peace and harmony is a priority in social relationships among the Javanese. Indeed, maintenance of social harmony is the core value of Javanese culture (Magnis-Suseno 1997). The social relationship of the Javanese is characterised by two basic principles reflecting their ideas of a good life: conflict avoidance and respect.
Javanese culture is characterised by the avoidance of all form of direct confrontation. Indeed, conflict avoidance plays a crucial role in maintaining social harmony. To avoid conflict, the Javanese are committed to the concept called as “rukun”, which shows how people should interact in a social relationship. Mulder (1978, p. 39) has described rukun as follows: Rukun is soothing over of differences, cooperation, mutual acceptance, quietness of heart, and harmonious existence. The whole of society should be