LP3ES must find ways to revive its influence<\/p>\n
By Rikza Abdullah<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Anyone attending the glamorous 30th anniversary
\nreception of the Institute for Social and Economic Research,
\nEducation and Information (LP3ES) at the ballroom of the five-
\nstar Hilton Hotel in Jakarta on Monday evening would have thought
\nthat the organization, well-known for its prestigious
\npublications, is at its peak.<\/p>\n
The reception was attended by some of its founders, such as
\nCoordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti,
\nSupreme Audit Agency chief Satrio B. Joedono, economist Emil
\nSalim, who was a minister for several years during the New Order
\nregime, Nono Anwar Makarim, the institute's first director, Ismid
\nHadad, the first editor of its scientific journal Prisma and D.G.
\nWilke of Germany, the institute's first deputy director.<\/p>\n
However the performance of the institute, whose activities
\ncurrently include the publication of scientific books and
\nmagazines, research and training, is now on a downward trend due
\nto intellectual fatigue. It therefore needs to be revitalized to
\ndevelop further.<\/p>\n
LP3ES's establishment in 1971 was engineered by student
\nactivists involved in the 1966-1967 demonstrations to topple then
\npresident Sukarno.<\/p>\n
According to Hadad, the student activists intended to use
\nLP3ES to support the government with ideas for national
\ndevelopment and criticize it whenever it makes mistakes. It took
\nthe developmentalist approach, one based on theories of
\ndevelopment and modernization, and its target was the developing
\nof young human resources. As the activists wanted to expand and
\nstrengthen the institute's influence, they invited prominent
\nintellectuals, academicians, professionals and technocrats, such
\nas then minister of trade Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Adam Malik,
\nwho was then chairman of the United Nations General Assembly,
\nhistorian Taufik Abdullah and businessman M. Jusuf Ronodipuro, to
\nbecome members of its advisory council.<\/p>\n
Nono Anwar said the activists initially found procedural
\ndifficulties in establishing LP3ES because the government did not
\nallow a private legal organization to be formed under the
\n\"institution\" category. They, therefore, established an umbrella
\norganization called the Indonesian Group for Economic and Social
\nDevelopment (Bineksos), which then, together with Friederick
\nNaumann Stiftung (FNS) of Germany, formed LP3ES.<\/p>\n
All LP3ES's activities during the first 10 years of operation
\nwere financed by FNS, whose Jakarta office, was then led by
\nWilke, a former student activist in Germany. The institution was
\nrequired to finance its own activities in the following years.<\/p>\n
LP3ES started its activities by publishing a scientific
\nmagazine, Prisma, presenting prominent figures -- including
\nSoemitro, who was a minister under the governments of both
\npresidents Sukarno and Soeharto, Emil Salim and J. Soedradjad
\nDjiwandono, who later became governor of Bank Indonesia -- as its
\nwriters. The magazine generally discussed social and economic
\nissues, including economic development, education, societal
\nhealth, agricultural economy, technology and industrialization.<\/p>\n
\"We were proud of Prisma's editions for the 1970s and 1980s,
\nwhich were used as compulsory reading and a source of reference
\nby intellectuals and university students,\" commented lawyer Adnan
\nBuyung Nasution.<\/p>\n
The circulation of the magazine, which was published bimonthly
\nin the first four years and monthly in the following years,
\nincreased from 1,000 copies at the start and peaked to 22,000
\ncopies in Aug. 1977 when it discussed political figures
\nencountered by prominent figures. However, its circulation
\nsteadily decreased in the 1990s and its publication ceased in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
Besides the magazine, LP3ES also publishes scientific books
\nand university textbooks. Its books are mostly written in
\nIndonesian by domestic experts and discuss social and economic
\nissues with backgrounds and samples of cases relevant to the
\nIndonesian context. Some of its books are a translation from
\nforeign books discussing issues relevant to Indonesia. As of the
\nmiddle of this year, LP3ES, through its subsidiary company PT
\nPustaka LP3ES Indonesia, has released 210 titles of books
\ninvolving 180 writers and editors.<\/p>\n
In research, the institution studies various social and
\neconomic subjects with the main aim of formulating innovative
\nprograms for development. Some of the results of its research
\nhave been used by the government for its development programs.<\/p>\n
In the 1970s, for example, it studied a model for development
\nplanning in local areas and the result of the study was then
\nadopted by the government in the establishment of provincial
\noffices for development planning (Bappeda). The result of its
\nresearch on the development of small-scale industries has now
\nbeen implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in
\ndeveloping small-scale industry centers (PIK) in various parts of
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
The institute is now carrying out a three-year study on the
\nempowerment of business associations in the country in
\ncooperation with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
\n(Kadin) and the Washington-based Center for International Private
\nEnterprise (CIPE).<\/p>\n
To meet increasing demands, LP3ES established a consulting
\ncompany, PT Arthacary Konsultama, in 1995 to provide consulting
\nservices to both government and private institutions. However,
\nthe company has stopped operating since 1999 due to a scarcity of
\norders during the present economic crisis.<\/p>\n
In line with the decline in its activities, LP3ES has now
\nsubstantially reduced its staff -- both employees and project-
\nbased workers -- from 146 in 1980 to less than 60 at present.<\/p>\n
Nono Anwar, who no longer works for LP3ES, said the fact that
\nthe institution could survive for 30 years was quite an
\nachievement but it was difficult to believe that such a
\nprestigious organization could subside. \"It seems that malaise
\nhas reduced its vitality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Ignas Kleden told the participants of the Monday
\nreception that the subsiding of LP3ES was caused mainly by
\nchanges in social conditions. On the one hand, the institution
\nemerged as a phenomenon of modernization during the New Order
\nera, while social conditions since the late 1980s has changed to
\npostmodernism.<\/p>\n
Modernization was generally marked by centralization of power,
\nrationalism as well as good organization and management, while
\npostmodernism was marked by decentralization of power, pluralism,
\nignorance of organization and structures and the emergence of
\ndemands for the respect of human rights, he said.<\/p>\n
\"LP3ES has carried out its tasks very well,\" he said in his
\nspeech at the reception. \"With its 30 years of traditional work,
\nit will be very difficult for us to demand the institute make
\nradical changes.\"<\/p>\n
However, since the institute has become a valuable asset that
\nhas made substantial contributions to the development of the
\nnation, its revitalization will be very important. As, like what
\nKleden said, demanding the institution make drastic changes will
\nbe very difficult. The best way to revitalize it is by inviting a
\nstrategic partner who can offer new innovative and creative ideas
\nand be backed by strong financial support. The proposed strategic
\npartner is expected to lead the institution in formulating new
\nactivities with innovative and creative strategies in line with
\nthe future developments of the nation.<\/p>",
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