Pancasila

Indonesian political philosophy

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Alternative Titles: Five Principles, Pantjasila

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New Nationalism

Pancasila, also spelled Pantjasila, English Five Principles, the Indonesian state philosophy,
formulated by the Indonesian nationalist leader Sukarno. It was first articulated on June 1, 1945,
in a speech delivered by Sukarno to the preparatory committee for Indonesias independence,
which was sponsored by the Japanese during their World War II occupation. Sukarno argued that
the future Indonesian state should be based on the Five Principles: Indonesian nationalism;
internationalism, or humanism; consent, or democracy; social prosperity; and belief in one God.
The statement was not well received by the Japanese authorities, but independence
preparations for Indonesia were continued. Before Indonesias independence was declared,
however, the Japanese had surrendered and Britain had taken control of the country.
The Five Principles have since become the blueprint of the Indonesian nation. In the constitution
of the Republic of Indonesia promulgated in 1945, the Five Principles were listed in a slightly
different order and in different words: the belief in one God, just and civilized humanity,
Indonesian unity, democracy under the wise guidance of representative consultations, and social
justice for all the peoples of Indonesia.

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Indonesia

country located off the coast of mainland Southeast Asia in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is an
archipelago that lies across the Equator and spans a distance equivalent to one-eighth of Earths
circumference. Its islands can be grouped into the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra...

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Sukarno

June 6, 1901 Surabaja [now Surabaya], Java, Dutch East Indies June 21, 1970 Jakarta, Indonesia
leader of the Indonesian independence movement and Indonesias first president (194966),
who suppressed the countrys original parliamentary