Prosperity only way to democracy, says UI scholar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Prosperity will beget democracy in Indonesia as
\nit has in other newly industrialized Asian countries, believes
\nacademic Nazaruddin Sjamsudin.<\/p>\n
\"Economic development is a pre-condition for democracy and
\npolitical development,\" Nazaruddin said at the University of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The increasing prosperity of the Indonesian people after 25
\nyears of development has fueled the demand for more political
\nopenness. To this, he added, the government has responded
\npositively.<\/p>\n
Despite the banning of several magazines and other unpopular
\nmoves, the government \"appears to have allowed the wind of
\ndemocracy to blow\" in Indonesia, he said, citing worker strikes
\nas an example. Once considered taboo, strikes are not only normal
\noccurrences now but also widely covered by the media.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin presented his paper at the university's 46th
\nanniversary and graduation ceremony on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin, a professor from the university's School of Social
\nand Political Sciences, said that the New Order government of
\nPresident Soeharto has faithfully followed the slogan \"Economy
\nYes, Politics No\" since it came into existence in 1966, when the
\ncountry's economy was in shambles.<\/p>\n
For the next 25 years, he said, the government has pursued
\npolitical stability to ensure economic progress.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is now far different. The current popular
\nslogan is Economy Yes, Politics Yes,\" said the 51-year-old who
\nobtained his masters degree and PhD in political science from
\nMonash University in Australia.<\/p>\n
He recalled Indonesia's experience of putting political
\ndevelopment first during the parliamentary democracy era in the
\n1950s, which, he said, proved disastrous to the economy as well
\nas the political situation.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said many East and Southeast Asian countries,
\nincluding Singapore and Malaysia, have become industrialized by
\nputting economic development before political development.<\/p>\n
In other Asian countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, people
\nare facing prolonged political turmoil and their economies are
\nfalling behind, he said.<\/p>\n
The merits and shortcomings of Indonesia's experience, he
\nargued, must be measured against the experience of other Asian
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\"The basis for the development of democracy here will not come
\nfrom some political policies or maneuvers. It is coming from the
\nsuccessful economic development.<\/p>\n
\"Nor was it born out of external pressures, as some people
\nwould have us believe. The international community cannot impose
\ndemocracy on us if the very basis for it has not developed in our
\nsociety,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"Our experience shows that our ability to implement democracy
\nimproves in line with the increasing prosperity of the people,
\nalthough not as rapidly as the economic growth rate.\"<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said the main obstacle to the development of
\ndemocracy in Indonesia is the huge proportion of economically
\nweak people and the millions living below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
For this reason, he suggested that Indonesia distinguish
\nbetween economic democracy and political democracy, and pursue
\nthe first rather than the latter.<\/p>\n
\"This way we can prevent as well as overcome the economic
\ndisparity that appears to be the driving force behind the demands
\nfor political democracy,\" he said. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosperity-only-way-to-democracy-says-ui-scholar-1447893297",
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