A messy state<\/p>\n
A "messy" state was how New York Times' columnist Thomas
\nFriedman described Indonesia after seeing the country first hand
\nand talking to many people in Jakarta last week. It is an apt if
\nnot fair characterization of where Indonesia stands today when it
\ncomes to the process of democratization.<\/p>\n
In his article, reprinted in Wednesday's International Herald
\nTribune, Friedman divided countries in the postcold war period
\ninto five categories: authoritarian states (Iraq and North
\nKorea), democratic states (America and France), democratizing
\nstates (Poland, Chile and Hungary), failed states (Sierra Leone
\nand Liberia) and messy states (Indonesia and Russia). He said
\nIndonesia and Russia are too big to fail but too messy to work.<\/p>\n
Indonesia can still take heart that it is not considered a
\nfailed state, which would be a totally hopeless condition. This
\nwould have echoed the warnings by some people about the nation
\ndisintegrating, unless it reverses the current trend.<\/p>\n
Not every one would agree with Friedman's characterization of
\nIndonesia as a messy state but few people could argue against the
\ntone of his argument that the strong optimism on the process of
\ndemocratic transition in Indonesia which prevailed last year has
\nnow given way to massive disillusionment.<\/p>\n
Until a few months ago, many people here and abroad still
\nviewed Indonesia as a country in transition. There were strong
\nhopes that democracy would finally take root in this country
\nunder the new national leadership which was elected through a
\ndemocratic process in October 1999.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid's election as Indonesia's first truly
\ndemocratically elected leader 12 months ago was indeed a
\nmilestone in this process. In the first few months of his
\nleadership, he fitted the bill and sent many positive signals.
\nHis greatest contribution in those first months was taming the
\nonce politically powerful military and bringing it under civilian
\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
That seemed to be as far as the process of democratization
\nwent. Since then, Indonesia has been drifting without a clear
\ndirection. Hopes and expectations began to make way to
\ndisappointment and disillusionment. The new government has not
\nonly failed to deal with problems inherited from the past regime
\nbut it has also created some of its own to compound the nation's
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Politically, the nation remains in disarray with the unrest
\nstill brewing in Aceh, Maluku, Central Sulawesi and Irian Jaya.
\nIf these were not enough, the administration seems to be
\nconstantly embroiled in fighting the legislature, at times even
\nto the brink of a constitutional crisis. The economic recovery
\nhas not been supported by new real investments, raising serious
\ndoubts about its sustainability. The judiciary, an important
\ninstitution to ensure the workings of democracy, is not
\nfunctioning. Nothing was getting done in this country these past
\nfew months. Indonesia indeed a messy state.<\/p>\n
Although it would be unfair to put the blame entirely on
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, he has been a determinant in this
\nstate of affairs. Likewise, he will be a crucial factor on
\nwhether and when Indonesia would ever move back from being a
\nmessy to a democratizing state.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman's often erratic behavior has not helped
\nthe situation and at times even aggravated the problems. More and
\nmore people who had supported and placed so much of hope on him
\nlast year, are now wondering whether he had been the right choice
\nto lead Indonesia in the transition to a democracy.<\/p>\n
Now with the nation seemingly resigned to the President's
\neccentricities and erratic behavior, Indonesia will likely
\ncontinue to drift in the present state of affairs for a few more
\nyears. That begs the question of when, if ever, are we going to
\nstart clearing this mess, or more importantly, who is going to
\ntake the initiative to clear this mess.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-messy-state-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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