The Dualistic Reality of Path to Progress for Indonesian Youths

Indonesia, with over 100 million active workforces, faces unique challenges in youth progression. Path to progress, in various forms of socio-economic dimensions, is crucial for society with an enormous size of youths population. This “large demand” for progression is now colliding with two forces: the digital technology revolution and increasing trends of nepotism. Indonesia, nor other countries, have facing this unique situation. Hence, a “cookie-cutter” approach for past problems or for other societies with no similarity in terms of socio-economic settings, cultural norms and identity, and size of demography will present out-of-date solutions, or even creating new problems. This paper is part of a broader research to provide an inclusive framework in understanding and navigating social complexity. This paper is a starting point for showing a construction of social phenomenon through the lens of inclusive framework. This paper explores the dualistic reality that constrains Indonesian youth: the entrenched power of "orang dalam" (insiders) and the magnetic allure of virtual fame. Through a comprehensive literature review and synthesis, this study examines the co-existence and convergence of these pathways through the intercultural lense. We find that not only the dual pathways co-exist, but they also alarmingly converging. These dual pathways have become the primary, yet limited, spectrum of opportunities, overshadowing meritocracy and competency. Incorporating an intercultural understanding enabling us to construct the interplay between both pathways. An inclusive framework and approach will support an effective reform for fostering merit-based pathways to progress, without diminishing Indonesia’s cultural identity.