Ethics of Writing History in the Axiological Perspective of Pancasila

Abstract

History is not merely a record of the past but an interpretation that shapes national identity and collective memory. In Indonesia, historical writing often faces challenges, such as political bias, Java-centrism, and narrative injustice, which contradicts the values of Pancasila. This study aims to analyze the relevance of Pancasila as an axiological framework to strengthen integrity and justice in historiographic practices. Using a qualitative approach with a normative framework design, this research examines historiographic texts, through thematic content analysis, hermeneutics, and critical discourse analysis. The findings indicate that Pancasila’s principles, Belief in the One and Only God, Just and Civilized Humanity, The Unity of Indonesia, Democracy guided by wisdom through deliberation and representation, and Social Justice for All the People of Indonesia, offer concrete ethical guidelines for historians. For instance, the principle of Social Justice mandates proportional representation, while Unity demands decentralization of historical narratives beyond Java. Meanwhile, the value of Divinity demands moral integrity in historical verification, the value of Humanity requires dignified representation of all subjects, and the value of Democracy requires inclusive participatory methods. However, the study also identifies challenges, such as political intervention and limited access. The case study of the 1965 Tragedy shows how the official narrative is dominated by a version of the regime that ignores the perspective of the victim and violates the principles of Humanity and Social Justice. This research contributes a critical synthesis of Pancasila values with global historiographical theories, providing an operational framework for ethical historical writing that is both contextually grounded and transformative.