American International Journal of Social Science

The Diversity of Surakarta Community: A Blessing toward Democracy
Hermanu Joebagio

Abstract
Surakarta is a city with multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural diversity. Surakarta population had been very heterogeneous since 16th-18th century, because river transportation has been available from Surabaya port to river port in Surakarta. Javanese, Balinese, Maduranese, Banjar (Borneo), Chinese, Arab, and Indian ethnics live in Surakarta City. With such the ecology, the dynamic characteristic grows from within Surakarta people. Until 19th century, ethnic or religion conflict has never developed into social conflict. Instead, the existence of Dutch colonial strengthening feudalism resulted in dissension within multiethnic and multireligious community. Nevertheless, such the devide et impera politics was not successful completely, because Javanese community prioritized life harmony. Life harmony principle was framed in the values of respecting each other, concord, building tranquility in their social environment, and dealing with inter-members of society conflict through discussion. This cultural orientation results in harmony, and the harmony building on diversity serves as the foundation of democracy growth

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