Indonesia needs the politics of hope to replace the politics of fear or the politics of darkness. It is time for the public officials to build the politics of hope before it is too late and things get worse.
By
AZYUMARDI AZRA
·5 minutes read
ABK
Azyumardi Azra
A drawn-out crisis that was initially local and quickly became global requires the politics of hope. Hope is dwindling in the face of a protracted financial, economic and political crisis, fading further as the Covid-19 situation remains resolved. In July, Indonesia was dubbed the new global epicenter of Covid-19 by international media, as it became the country with the most daily cases and deaths.
The Covid-19 pandemic, according to the findings of a Kompas R&D survey in July, has suppressed the people to the lowest point of vulnerability. The psychosocial condition of the people is no less worrying (Kompas, 26/7/2021).
Many Covid-19 victims face multiple difficulties: Hospitals are overcrowded, oxygen cylinders are scarce, medicines are unavailable in the market and bodies are queuing up for burial.
Emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) shackle people. People feel hopeless, not knowing if they might receive news that one of their relatives has died. The gloom also extends to economic life. The implementation of PPKM Darurat adds to the economic woes of more and more people, putting them in "limbo".
The dimming hope is also increasingly felt by the people in political life. There is a decline in hope in a democracy that has been manipulated by the authorities and political elites into a despotic nepotistic oligarchy. The government, including the top leadership, high-ranking officials and political elites often make noise and blame each other in public. They also do the same with officials in the regions. Communication between fellow public officials and with the people does not work well. Often public officials do not provide an example and empathy for the people who are experiencing difficulties. Some are engrossed in their own interests, taking advantage of the Covid-19 outbreak. Others continue to set regulations and policies in a despotic, nepotistic, oligarchic manner.
Is there still hope? Obviously it is still there. However, the hopes of many middle-class and lower-class people are fading. State leaders and political elites should not allow the fading of hope to continue. This situation can lead to despair; lead the public to apathy or to become emotional. The increase in emotions and the depletion of patience can drive the people to disobey.
In a webinar a few days ago where the author was a speaker, several audience members suggested a faster, more radical and comprehensive approach to change the political situation which they found increasingly hopeless. In response, the author emphasizes that every citizen must be patient, use peaceful, democratic and constitutional means to improve the situation, especially through the 2024 General Election.
All developments and non-conducive phenomena need to be responded to well and wisely by the government and political elites in the House of Representatives or political parties. Facing this phenomenon, any and all political leaders and elites at various levels must make more serious efforts to improve public expectations. As the main report from Kompas (11/7) calls for, it is necessary to build public optimism in facing pressure and uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here, there is a need to develop the politics of hope, which undoubtedly depends a lot on public officials, especially the executive and legislators who are in the main position in setting regulations. In the perspective of citizens, various regulations often do not improve, but worsen the situation. At the end, it leads to disappointment, frustration, hopelessness or resistance.
Borrowing Martin Wolf\'s framework in The Politics of Hope against the Politics of Fear (2019), in a crisis situation, public officials need to reform, rejuvenate and revitalize the politics of hope. The politics of hope is very urgent and relevant in the midst of the rampant Covid-19 outbreak and increasing people’s dissatisfaction. The politics of hope requires a number of steps to be effective. These steps must be carried out by public officials from the highest level to the lowest level.
The politics of hope requires strengthening the leadership capacity of public officials. They must demonstrate the ability to lead and mobilize bureaucratic institutions and community organizations in a consistent movement to solve various serious problems faced by the people. Officials must demonstrate they know the problem and are competent. They must be able to communicate well; do not continue to dissent and confuse the public sphere with confusing statements, acronyms or abbreviations.
Only by strengthening the leadership capacity of public officials can people rebuild trust and confidence in the government. Public officials must not be too busy maintaining their image through policies that are seen by people as nothing more than “cosmetics” or gimmicks that cannot increase public trust and confidence.
The politics of hope also needs strengthening the inclusiveness and empathy of public leaders. In the midst of economic, political, or health difficulties, public leaders must abandon exclusive tendencies. They should not get caught up in the circle of oligarchic coalitions so that they are further away from reality -- losing genuine empathy for those who suffer. The politics of hope must include sharpening the sensitivity of public leaders in choosing priorities.
Indonesia needs the politics of hope to replace the politics of fear or the politics of darkness. It is time for the public officials to build the politics of hope before it is too late and things get worse.
AZYUMARDI AZRA, Professor of History at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah; AIPI KK member.
