From a theoretical perspective, this idea can be explained using Benedict Anderson's (1983) imagined community approach. Atlantis Nusantara serves as a new founding myth that strengthens the collective imagination of the Indonesian nation. It creates a narrative of togetherness that transcends ethnic, linguistic, and religious barriers, placing the entire Indonesian archipelago within a unified framework of a great civilization. In global identity politics, this kind of myth plays a crucial role in building moral legitimacy and a deeper sense of nationalism.
Furthermore, Atlantis also paved the way for the revitalization of Indonesian spirituality. Atlantis, depicted as a prosperous and religious land, can be understood as a symbol of balance between materiality and spirituality. In the current context, Indonesian spirituality is reflected in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy in Bali, the Cosmological Silahturahmi in the Javanese tradition, or the Huma Betang in Kalimantan. Reading Atlantis as a mirror, the Indonesian nation is reminded that true development does not only pursue economic growth, but also harmony between humans, nature, and God.
Furthermore, Atlantis Nusantara also serves as a symbol of resistance against global homogenization. Amidst the rapid flow of capitalism and modern technology, the Indonesian nation risks losing its cultural roots and local wisdom. Atlantis offers a counter-narrative: that Nusantara modernity can be built from local foundations, rather than simply imitating the West. This is the idea of glocalization, where global values meet local strengths (Robertson, 1995). Atlantis, in this context, becomes both an anchor of identity and a beacon of development direction.
On the other hand, the Atlantis narrative can also be read within the framework of civilizational dialogue. While the veracity of Atlantis in the Nusantara remains a matter of debate, what is more important is how this narrative can serve as a bridge for dialogue between nations. Atlantis allows the Indonesian people to enter the discourse of global civilization with a more equal position: not merely as the "periphery" of the world, but as an alternative "center" that once existed and may yet rise again.
Critics may argue that Atlantis is merely a myth, not a historical fact. However, it is precisely within the realm of myth that symbolic power operates. Like Rome with the story of Romulus and Remus, or America with the myth of the Frontier, the Indonesian people also need a grand narrative to sustain their existence. Atlantis Nusantara, in this case, functions as mythopoeia---the creation of myths that provide direction and meaning to collective life. In other words, the truth of Atlantis is not measured solely by archaeological facts, but by its ability to inspire and energize.
From this perspective, the narrative of Atlantis must be positioned as a force for social transformation. Atlantis is not simply a story of a lost past, but rather a force for shaping the future: building a global maritime axis, developing technology in harmony with nature, and cultivating a spirituality rooted in Nusantara cosmology. Atlantis is a historical call for the Indonesian people to become not merely consumers of globalization, but architects of a new civilization.
Thus, from mystery to identity, Atlantis Nusantara provides a bridge between history, myth, and vision of the future. It connects collective memory with the nation's ideals. It connects the past with the direction of a new civilization. And most importantly, it affirms that the revival of the archipelago does not have to start from scratch, but rather from the great legacy that once existed, now waiting to be reawakened.
Conclusion: Imagination, History, and Hope
The question of Atlantis---whether it truly existed in the Indonesian archipelago or was merely a classical Greek myth---will continue to be a subject of intense academic debate. However, beyond this debate lies a far more important meaning: Atlantis Nusantara is a space of reflective imagination that provides this nation with the opportunity to liberate itself from Western epistemic hegemony. By rereading Arysio Santos' theory, we reaffirm that knowledge does not always have to come from Western academic centers but can also emerge from alternative perspectives rooted in the history and geography of the Indonesian archipelago.
This reflective imagination serves as a counter-narrative to epistemic colonialism, which for centuries has positioned Indonesia merely as an object of research, not a subject of knowledge. By positioning the Indonesian archipelago as Atlantis, we shift the orientation: from the periphery of the world to the center of civilization. This narrative allows for the emergence of new forms of pride, while also affirming the cultural claim that the Indonesian nation possesses an intellectual heritage equal to that of other nations.
Furthermore, the imagination of Atlantis Nusantara serves as an ars memoriae---a collective memory space that connects the nation's past, present, and future. Atlantis is not simply the story of a sinking continent, but rather a reflection of how civilizations can collapse and rise again. In this perspective, Atlantis serves as a metaphor for Indonesia's own history: a nation that once experienced maritime glory, then fell under colonialism, and now stands on the verge of a new renaissance.
In the tradition of the philosophy of history, Hegel (1956) described history as a dialectic between the rise and fall of civilizations. Atlantis Nusantara can be read within this dialectical framework: the sinking of the Sunda Shelf 11,600 years ago was not an end, but a negation that paved the way for a new affirmation---the birth of the maritime nation now known as Indonesia. Thus, Atlantis is not merely a myth of the past, but rather a call to revive long-hidden potential.
