Value Priorities of The Modern Indonesian Elite As Constructive Factors In The Formation of National Mentality And Political Identity

The object of this study is the mental transformations associated with the formation of a unified national mentality. The subject of the research is the value orientations of the contemporary political and cultural elite of the Republic of Indonesia. The aim of the work is to analyze the value priorities of the contemporary Indonesian elite as constructive factors in the formation of national mentality and political identity. An understanding of the peculiarities of identity formation in Indonesia is provided. Factors of its formation, such as migration, the struggle for liberation, and the ideology of Pancasila, are reflected. The cultural specificity of Indonesian society is demonstrated as the interaction of regional cultures in Indonesia and the cultures of other countries. The processes of assimilation and acculturation are reflected. It is shown that ethnic diversity is a source of problems in the process of formation of the national mentality of Indonesians. A definition of mentality is provided. The substantive content of the phenomenon of mentality by Indonesian politicians is revealed. The methodological basis of the study was the mental approach (O. V. Kolesova), which makes it possible to interpret mentality as a structure including biological, psychological, social, and cultural elements. The systems approach (D. Easton) made it possible to present new value orientations of the modern Indonesian elite from the perspective of a system that ensures political priorities. The novelty of the study lies in the following: the political identity of Indonesians is formed under the influence of cultural factors that transform mentality; the formation of national mentality is correlated with the values positioned by the modern Indonesian elite. The vision of Indonesian national identity as perceived by Indonesian leaders is presented. Common aspects are positioned in the understanding of the cultural field as a struggle for various forms of capital and the understanding of identity politics as the competitive positioning of various social groups in the pursuit of preferences. Types of identity criteria are distinguished: economic and cultural. The criteria of identity of Indonesian society are positioned as cultural. The cultural specificity of Indonesians is demonstrated in relation to religious preferences. An understanding of the influence of religion on the formation of political views is provided. The ambivalence of religious identity criteria in Indonesia is revealed. The value orientations of the Indonesian political and cultural elite are identified as constructive factors in the formation of national mentality and political identity. Conclusions are formulated regarding the correspondence of the Indonesian elite's value orientations with the objectives of shaping the national mentality and corresponding political identity. Recommendations are provided for the development of educational and cultural programs aimed at shaping the national mentality and political identity of Indonesians.