{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1671879,
        "msgid": "boni-hargens-launches-political-science-book-comments-on-saiful-mujanis-statement-1775926257",
        "date": "2026-04-11 22:44:17",
        "title": "Boni Hargens Launches Political Science Book, Comments on Saiful Mujani's Statement",
        "author": "",
        "source": "VIVA",
        "tags": "berita",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Senior political analyst Boni Hargens launched his book 'Political Science from the Classical Era to the Digital Age' in Jakarta, where he addressed the controversy surrounding Saiful Mujani's remarks about rallying opposition against the Prabowo Subianto government. Hargens argued that debates on whether Mujani's statements amount to sedition should be grounded in robust political theory, viewing them as a pre-revolutionary condition from the state's perspective but as legitimate civil society expression of disappointment over the lack of political opposition. He emphasised that an ideal government must balance state interests with civil liberties, highlighting the book's relevance to Indonesia's evolving political dynamics in the digital era.",
        "content": "<p>Senior political analyst Boni Hargens responded to the statement by\nSMRC founder Saiful Mujani regarding \u2018toppling\u2019 and rallying forces\nagainst the Prabowo Subianto government. According to Boni Hargens, the\ndebate over Saiful Mujani\u2019s statement must be grounded in strong\nthinking about political science as outlined in Boni Hargens\u2019 book.<\/p>\n<p>This was conveyed by Boni Hargens at the launch and book review of\nhis work titled \u2018Political Science from the Classical Era to the Digital\nAge\u2019 at the Aryaduta Hotel, Jakarta, on Saturday, 11 April 2026.<\/p>\n<p>At the launch event, several speakers who reviewed Boni Hargens\u2019 book\nwere present, namely Professor of Political Science Lili Romli, BRIN\nresearcher Syafuan Rozi, and political observer Karyono Wibowo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegarding whether speaker Mr Saiful Mujani\u2019s category is sedition or\notherwise, that debate must indeed be grounded in strong thinking about\npolitics,\u201d said Boni Hargens.<\/p>\n<p>He assessed that Saiful Mujani\u2019s statement could be examined from\ndifferent perspectives, namely the perspective of the state and the\nperspective of civil society. From the state\u2019s perspective, said Boni\nHargens, Saiful Mujani\u2019s statement constitutes a pre-condition towards\nrevolution because there is already an idea and effort to rally\nforces.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut from the civil society perspective, it is freedom of speech and\nalso a form of serious disappointment towards political parties that do\nnot present political opposition amid democratic power. In other words,\nMr Saiful\u2019s remarks from the civil society perspective constitute a\nstern warning and slap to political parties to present the role of\nopposition in democracy,\u201d explained Boni.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, said Boni Hargens, the state\u2019s viewpoint on Saiful\nMujani\u2019s statement is not wrong because it has the potential to disrupt\npublic interests with the pre-condition towards revolution. However,\nsaid Boni Hargens, an ideal government must be able to maintain a\nbalance between the state perspective and the civil society\nperspective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn ideal government is about how to maintain balance between these\ntwo opposing paradigms. So, making decisions while still safeguarding\nthe civil society perspective and maintaining state interests,\u201d\nexplained Boni.<\/p>\n<p>In the political dynamics in Indonesia, said Boni Hargens, his book\nhas relevance by presenting conceptual foundations, theoretical aspects,\nand the interconnection of political science with developments in the\ncurrent digital era.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boni-hargens-launches-political-science-book-comments-on-saiful-mujanis-statement-1775926257",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}