History Teachers' Representation of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika: A critical discourse analysis

This research elucidates the history teachers' representation of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika that contains a paradoxical meaning between unity and diversity. Critical discourse analysis with the socio-cognitive approach was used to analyze the teacher's interpretation and objectification. The subjects of the research were 25-history teacher of Senior High Schools at three provinces: Central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta. The authors found two models of representation: valuing and contextualizing. Based on those models of representation, teachers tended to interpret Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in the form of "unity above diversity". This interpretation is then objectified in several terms such as nationalism, patriotism, unity, and sovereignty. From critical perspectives, the finding of research shows that the unity is posited above the diversity. Considering these findings, the authors indicate the problem between nationalism, unity, and diversity, in which those ideologies are posited in an unequal position.