Mochtar Lubis: A Global Thinker Rooted In Humanity

Abstract

This paper examines Mochtar Lubis as a global humanist thinker who utilised literature and journalism to advocate universal humanistic values. The study addresses three main questions: (1) the meaning of global humanity as conceptualised by Mochtar Lubis, (2) the significance he attributed to discussions of global humanity, and (3) the extent to which Eastern writers can critically interpret these ideas. The objectives of this research are to identify characteristics of global humanity within his works, clarify their significance within literary and intellectual contexts, analyse these concepts as reflected in his writing, and evaluate the alignment of his ideas with discourses from thinkers of the Global South. A hermeneutic approach is employed to interpret Mochtar Lubis’s literary works within the historical, social, and postcolonial political contexts. The findings show his strong stance on social justice, women's empowerment, and opposition to authoritarianism and corruption. His ideas rejected violence and ideological domination, emphasising instead human dignity and global peace. The paper concludes that Mochtar Lubis was not merely an Indonesian literary figure but a global intellectual who significantly contributed to shaping universal discourse on humanity from a perspective of the Global South. 

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