Theorizing is no less important than implementing<\/p>\n
By Ignas Kleden<\/p>\n
This is the first of two articles discussing the relationship
\nbetween scientific theories and their implementation.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The term \"theory\" has suffered undue calumny for
\ntoo long. Generally, theory is misunderstood as the opposite of
\npractice, not its complement.<\/p>\n
Theory is considered inferior to practice. This impression is
\nreinforced by the provocative statement of an influential
\nIndonesian intellectual, Sayidiman Suryohadiprodjo, at a recent
\nseminar organized by the Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
Sayidiman criticized the mentality of Indonesians, which he
\nsays have not grasped the importance of self-reliance.<\/p>\n
He pointed out another \"modern\" shortcoming: \"many Indonesians
\nare very good at making concepts and theories, but fall short
\nwhen it comes to their implementation\" (The Jakarta Post, May 15,
\n1996).<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the statement puts together two things which
\nshould be separated: the ability to create theories, and the
\nability to implement them.<\/p>\n
Firstly, theoretical work is real work, no less hard and no
\nless tedious than practical work. Theorizing is not bubble
\nblowing. It is the organization of ideas and the testing of
\npropositions.<\/p>\n
Serious theoretical work needs to be tested empirically, and
\nabhors idle verbosity, or social or political snobbery.<\/p>\n
Secondly, we have to be humble enough to admit that theorizing
\nis still very much neglected here. I am talking now about the
\nsocial sciences in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In comparison to foreign Indonesianists, Indonesian social
\nscientists are small beer.<\/p>\n
Pick a foreigner studying Indonesia and you can easily say
\nwhat kind of theoretical work he or she has contributed to
\nIndonesian studies. Of course not all foreign Indonesianists are
\ngreat masters, but they definitely work more seriously than many
\nof our own social scientists.<\/p>\n
Dutch Indonesianists are particularly accomplished: from
\nSnouck Hurgronje to Th.G.T. Pigeaud, from B.J.O. Schriecke to
\nWertheim.<\/p>\n
The same can be said of the Americans. Having started as late
\nas the 1950s, they have produced a glut of theories on Indonesian
\nculture and society.<\/p>\n
Ben Anderson wrote about the Javanese concept of power, C.
\nGeertz about politics based on ideology, and B. Higgins about the
\naborted take-off of the Indonesian economy.<\/p>\n
Certainly one cannot simply conclude that foreign scholars are
\nmore capable than our own. But put simply, the view that theory
\nis the highest achievement of science is not common here.<\/p>",
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