The ideal city in the image of Plato's Republic is a city with a leadership philosophy that possesses three main characteristics: a spirit of reasoning, a competitive spirit, and enjoyment.

The title of this edition’s Political Analysis is borrowed from a Kompas Editorial earlier this month (5/2/2021).

The pace of democratic development and bureaucratic reform in Indonesia has suffered from two blows at once: declines in both the Democracy Index and the Corruption Perception Index.

Neither shocking nor surprising but certainly a cause for concern. Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index has dropped from a score of 40 (on a scale of 0-100) in 2019 to 37 in 2020.

In state building, which is not always similar to nation building, the achievement of the Indonesian state has been arguably left behind for decades, which makes it unworthy of being called a modern democracy.

The replacement of the National Police chief from General Idham Azis to Commissioner General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the sole candidate proposed by President Joko Widodo to the House of Representatives went smoothly.

Infrastructure development grew rapidly during President Joko Widodo's administration. Infrastructure in the form of toll roads, highways, ports, airports or dams will become a legacy from the Jokowi era.

After the numerous challenges caused by the pandemic that has threatened the livelihoods of many, the year 2020 is suddenly drawing to a close.

What kinds of aspirations can we ignite in our hearts and minds toward the year 2021?

The flow of globalization has freed the public sphere and intensified interaction between societies.