SAGONESE
About Sagonese
Inspiration from Germany and Europe
We are based in Germany and share the common origin of being born in Indonesia. We consider it essential to learn from Germany and Europe as a unique intellectual sphere, where development is thoughtfully pursued without sacrificing the institutional diversity these countries possess in favor of a singular national development agenda. In this context, the most pressing global challenges—such as climate change, advancements in artificial intelligence, the preservation of cultural identity, and income and social inequality—are addressed through close collaboration among government, academia, and private enterprises in a progressive and corruption-free manner. We believe that Europe, especially Germany, has much to offer from which Indonesian intellectuals can learn and draw inspiration. We maintain that the transfer of ideas—even without implying direct cross-national implementation—has been fundamental to the very formation of Indonesia as a nation. Today, however, most Indonesian public intellectuals predominantly draw their inspiration from the Anglo-Saxon world.
Denormalize
Denormalize
Develop
To decolonize is to uncover and challenge the hidden legacies of colonialism that shape how we live and think today. We chose “Sago” as a symbol because it reminds us that rice—now seen as Indonesia’s sole staple—was not always the norm. The Dutch colonial government promoted rice production to boost internal trade between residencies, enforcing it as the dominant carbohydrate. Before that, sago was widely consumed—not just in eastern Indonesia, but also in Java and Sumatra. The Javanese word sega originally referred to sago. By recognizing the colonial origins of what we’ve normalized, we begin to decolonize—naming problems, and imagining alternatives.
To denormalize is to critically examine what we accept as “normal.” Our sense of normality often feels objective, yet it is deeply shaped by bias—rooted in our social class, economic means, access to power, networks, and even our capacity for reflection. These biases are embedded in the epistemologies we inherit: how we learn to think about thinking. Denormalization requires separating our lived experience from these often-invisible frameworks. It challenges us to see that what feels natural or universal may, in fact, be partial and conditioned. Only through this process can we open space for more inclusive and equitable perspectives.
To develop is not merely to grow, but to do so with awareness and care. After denormalizing and decolonizing, development becomes less about imposing a single path and more about recognizing diverse needs and histories. It may not yield a perfect agenda, but it can be less biased. Not every farmer needs to grow rice—nor should they. Not every Indonesian must learn only of Mataram’s attack on Batavia, but also of the many struggles that shaped their own regions. True development respects local knowledge, restores agency, and builds from the ground up—not from a centralized or inherited blueprint.