Indonesia today and in the future is truly beyond imagination. The Indonesia of the early days of independence in 1945 and the Indonesia we experience today are as different as the earth and sky.
By
AZYUMARDI AZRA
·5 minutes read
ABK
Azyumardi Azra
Seventy-six years of Indonesian independence. Many achievements have been realized, which may never have been imagined by the freedom fighters and founders of the republic. Indonesia today and in the future is truly beyond imagination. The Indonesia of the early days of independence in 1945 and the Indonesia we experience today are as different as the earth and sky.
There is no need to list the progresses made during the 76 years of independence. This may create complacency, leaving us feeling satisfied with all our achievements without feeling the need to strive to achieve better conditions so that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is closer to the goals of true independence. It is important to emphasize that. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic continues, making the ideals of independence even more distant.
Luckily, Indonesia as a nation-state still has the capital of unity, social cohesion and optimism (Kompas, 18/8/21). While being grateful for our achievements, it is appropriate to conduct an honest, critical and courageous assessment to move forward more steadily. From this assessment, it is immediately apparent that many things are still far or getting farther from the ideal of independence.
The Indonesia of the early days of independence in 1945 and the Indonesia we experience today are as different as the earth and sky.
The parameters of the assessment on achievement, for example, are in the goals of independence stated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution: "Protecting the entire Indonesian nation and the entire homeland of Indonesia, advancing public welfare, educating the nation, implementing world order based on independence, lasting peace and social justice".
Based on this parameter, it is clear that not all Indonesians are protected. If the homeland of Indonesia is relatively protected despite the existence of superpowers with extraordinary territorial ambitions that want to dominate the northern seas of the archipelago, on the other hand, there are still many people who are not protected in life — they are left behind, living still in a pre-agrarian culture.
Their numbers will double if we put together those living in an agrarian culture — mostly farm laborers. Their numbers are increasing due to COVID-19. If they have agricultural products, these cannot be protected and marketed at a reasonable price. They are far from “prosperity” — one of the goals of independence. Most of them also still do not represent the nation\'s intelligence. They are left behind in education, which then makes them economically and socially backward. On the other hand, being left behind economically and socially makes them continue to be left behind in education.
Indonesia is rather lucky because apart from those who have not been protected and have not been educated, there are groups of people who are economically, educationally and socioculturally better off. Some are of the upper class and many more middle-class. They become the backbone of progress, economic growth and community empowerment through civil society movements. However, the middle class is not always protected by political rights. Many of them belong to civil society, which should be dynamic in a democracy. Now many of them are marginalized in the political process and also often experience “virtual harassment” for being critical.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia’s “domestic sphere” itself, after 76 years of independence, political, economic, social, cultural and religious order has not yet been fully realized. In the global world, Indonesia has also not been able to play a significant role in promoting independence, lasting peace and social justice. This is ironic, because Indonesia is the largest economy in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the most populous Muslim country, the third-largest democracy in the world and the fourth most populous country in the world.
Considering all these, public officials and all stakeholders need to rejuvenate independence. The age of the Republic of Indonesia at 76 years is not old when compared to many other countries that are older. But the age of 76 gives many signs of the urgency of “rejuvenation” or energy boosting to realize the ideals and goals of independence.
Countries such as the United States, Britain, Russia, the European Union or China periodically rejuvenate themselves in the course of history. Usually, new discourses and orientations on state rejuvenation mainly focus on political systems and praxis that determine the direction of future development of the nation state.
In that context, it is worth borrowing the Carnegie Europe framework on Six Ideas for Rejuvenating European Democracy (2019). For the political rejuvenation of Indonesia in order to refresh the ideals of independence, several points can be proposed: First, the reconsolidation of democracy by stopping the tendency of increasing nepotistic and despotic oligarchs. This phenomenon is dangerous because it causes people to lose more and more political, economic, social and cultural rights.
Second, reviewing the election process of public officials through the electoral system and local elections, as well as the parliamentary threshold and presidential threshold. The current electoral and regional election system has led to the rise of money politics and transactional politics. Third, strengthening political parties and democratic political culture, which includes the recruitment and promotion of government officials based on merit rather than nepotism. Fourth, reempowering the marginalized civil society. The reconsolidation of civil society is very important as a moral force and counterweight in the political process.
Finally, recreating the balance of power between the executive, legislative and judiciary. An executive that is too strong because it is supported by a very large political coalition results in almost no checks and balances. This leads to a government that can freely move away from the ideals and goals of independence, prioritizing the interests of its own political circle over the interests of the nation-state.
AZYUMARDI AZRA, Professor of History at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah; AIPI KK member.
