| A diverse country, Indonesia is made up of an | | | | thousands of temples and minor and major religious |
| archipelago of some 17,508 islands inhabited by more | | | | festivals are a common occurrence nearly every day |
| than 300 distinct ethnic groups. Although it is known | | | | of the year. |
| as the country with the world's largest Muslim | | | | Census figures reinforce this notion; the island's |
| population, Indonesia boasts a heterogeneous | | | | population is 89% ethnic Balinese. Nearly 93% of the |
| demographic make-up with nearly every major world | | | | Balinese follow a distinct form of Hinduism unique to |
| religion commanding a significant following. Indonesia | | | | the island which has evolved from an amalgamation |
| has always possessed a strong central government, | | | | of Buddhist, Hindu and local beliefs over the centuries. |
| but recent changes in 2001 have transferred more | | | | Rather than suppress and control all the things that |
| and more governing powers to locally elected district | | | | make Bali unique, the Indonesian government has |
| and village-level officials for greater regional | | | | taken unprecedented steps to foster democracy and |
| autonomy. | | | | encourage self rule in Bali. One such measure is the |
| Such is the case in Bali, perhaps Indonesia's best | | | | Bali Democracy Forum that took place in the island on |
| known province. The island of Bali has long stood | | | | December, 2008 with the hopes of providing a forum |
| apart from the rest of Indonesia thanks to strong | | | | for discussing how to build and consolidate |
| local traditions and a distinct religious identity. | | | | democracy in the Asian region. |
| Throughout its long history Bali has been the target | | | | Many are hopeful that such measures will slowly but |
| of assimilation by various powers, starting with the | | | | surely spread democracy in all of Indonesia's |
| Dutch who controlled the island as part of the Dutch | | | | provinces and lead to greater cohesion and |
| East Indies. After Bali was incorporated as a province | | | | cooperation between the various ethnic groups and |
| in the modern nation of Indonesia it remained a | | | | religious minorities that inhabit the region. Bali is a |
| bastion of Balinese-Hinduism in the largest Muslim | | | | great example that nations in South East Asia need |
| country in the world. The people of Bali take their | | | | not be culturally, religiously and ethnically |
| traditions and religion seriously - the island is home to | | | | homogeneous to be stable and successful. |