Indonesia - German Encounter: Cultural Studies Perspective

Through his book "Indonesien oder Die Inseln des Malayischen Archipels" (1869), the German writer Adolf Bastian played a pivotal role in popularizing the term "Indonesia" to denote the Dutch East Indies, which was then widely recognized. The nomenclature "Indonesia" was subsequently embraced by the burgeoning independent youth movement and eventually adopted as the country's official name. The significance of a German writer catalyzing the adoption of this pivotal name suggests a historically overlooked yet crucial aspect. The German role in the narrative of Indonesian history has received only cursory mention. However, in the late 20th century, a series of substantial publications originating from German sources emerged, elaborating on the importance of German-Indonesian relations during the period spanning the 16th to the early 20th century. This review article aims to furnish an overarching perspective on the multifaceted encounter between Indonesia and Germany, analyzed through the lens of cultural studies