Historical Context
In every country Surge works, we pay close attention to the remnants of the colonial past and take steps to ensure that our work is an active part of decolonization.
The 17,000+ islands in the Indonesian archipelago boast significant natural, cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity. Indonesia has been subjected to colonial control through most of its history, mostly by the Dutch since the 16th century through 1942, and then by the Japanese until 1945. Indonesia wasn’t free of foreign control until it fought its way to independence in 1949 from the Dutch. Domestic political violence followed as did economic
instability, social unrest, corruption, and terrorism.
In spite of this history, Indonesia is a growing country of talented, hard-working people with vibrant ideas about how to address the challenges they face.
