Soekarno – Vision, Revolution, and Imagining a Nation

 

Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, was not only a revolutionary leader but also a master of imagining futures. His fiery speeches, symbolic gestures, and bold ideas helped transform the dream of independence into a living reality. Though he never used the term, Soekarno’s politics carried the essence of futures literacy—the ability to use the future as a resource for shaping collective action in the present.

Imagining independence before it existed

Before 1945, Indonesian independence was considered by many an impossible dream. The colonial powers seemed immovable, and nationalist movements often faced repression. Yet Soekarno insisted on imagining a different tomorrow. His insistence on freedom was not just political—it was an act of foresight. Futures literacy reminds us that every revolution begins with the ability to see a future that others cannot yet accept.

Narratives as tools of transformation

Soekarno’s greatest gift was storytelling. Through speeches and slogans like “Merdeka atau Mati” (“Freedom or Death”), he created narratives that mobilized millions. He reframed the Indonesian people’s sense of themselves, shifting from subjects of colonial rule to citizens of a future republic. Futures literacy highlights the power of narratives to make futures tangible. By telling stories of independence, unity, and dignity, Soekarno helped Indonesians act as if freedom was already within reach.

Pancasila as a framework for alternative futures

Soekarno also introduced Pancasila, the five principles that became Indonesia’s ideological foundation: belief in God, humanitarianism, national unity, democracy, and social justice. This was more than constitutional design—it was a foresight exercise. By articulating values that could hold together a diverse archipelago, he created a scaffolding for multiple possible futures. Futures literacy today reminds us that values are the compass that guide our pathways into uncertainty.

Weak signals and radical imagination

Soekarno paid attention to weak signals from global currents—anticolonial movements, socialism, Islam, and Asian solidarity. He used these to weave Indonesia into a broader story of liberation. His calls for the “Bandung Spirit” in 1955, when he hosted newly independent nations at the Bandung Conference, was another futures gesture: imagining a world no longer dominated by colonial powers, but by a new global order of equality.

The paradox of vision

Yet Soekarno’s futures literacy had its limits. His charisma and sweeping visions sometimes overshadowed practical governance. His Guided Democracy experiment, meant to stabilize the nation, concentrated power and led to political turbulence. This tension reflects a crucial lesson: futures literacy must be shared, not monopolized. A future imagined by one leader alone risks excluding others.

Lessons for today

• Dare to dream differently: Like Soekarno, societies must imagine futures that break from the “inevitable.”
• Use stories as bridges: Narratives give shape to abstract futures and mobilize people toward action.
• Anchor in values: Futures built on ethical foundations endure longer than those built on tactics alone.
• Balance vision with inclusion: A foresight that belongs only to leaders is fragile; futures literacy flourishes when communities participate.

Closing thought

Soekarno’s life shows how futures literacy is not just an academic skill but a lived practice of courage, vision, and storytelling. His ability to imagine independence, articulate values, and situate Indonesia in a global movement reshaped history. Yet his legacy also reminds us that futures are stronger when they are plural and shared. To honor Soekarno’s spirit is to continue imagining Indonesia’s future boldly—but also inclusively, as a collective act of foresight.