'True democracy is a mere illusion'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): True democracy has become a concept that is
\nambiguous, illusory and one that is too far-fetched to be applied
\nin any country, a political scientist said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Daniel S. Lev, a professor of politics from the University of
\nWashington in Seattle, U.S., said in a symposium that people are
\nnow reluctant to look at the \"realistic and urgent things\" in a
\nsociety which should in fact be the main ingredients of
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
\"The original meaning of political democracy is that every
\ncitizen participates directly in the government. If this is the
\ncase, it means that no country in the world is democratic,\" he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
The symposium on \"Freedom and Human Dignity\", held by the
\nSoedjatmoko Foundation in memory of Indonesian intellectual
\nSoedjatmoko, was attended by some 300 people, most of whom were
\ngovernment critics, former freedom fighters, non-governmental
\norganization (NGO) activists, well-known literary figures and
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's panel included former minister of environment Emil
\nSalim, political and social scientist Ignas Kleden and political
\nscientist Mochtar Pabottingi with Daniel Dhakidae, a researcher
\nat the Kompas daily, as moderator.<\/p>\n
Lev, who presented his ideas in fluent Bahasa Indonesia,
\nconsiders democracy to be an ideal concept measured by the
\npeople's level of participation in a state.<\/p>\n
Currently, he said, it was understood that \"democracy\" only
\nexisted if a leader was chosen by the people.<\/p>\n
\"This reflects not only a misunderstanding but also -- more
\nseriously -- a sort of illusion which merely attempts to satisfy
\nthe political imagination and, in doing so, blocks the view to
\nmore difficult issues that democracy must tackle,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"'Democracy' becomes very easy to do -- because the real thing
\nis virtually impossible. On the other hand, establishing a
\nrepublic becomes a very arduous task -- because it is possible,
\nalthough difficult to achieve and preserve,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
To build ties with its people and to legitimize its power, an
\n\"artificial\" nation state would most likely have to use symbols
\nof nationality, he said.<\/p>\n
\"People can easily love their country but can seldom love
\ntheir (artificial) state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Because governments cannot always satisfy everyone in society,
\nhe said, applying symbols of nationality was not enough. The
\ngovernment must also deal with the people's emotional ties to
\nmaintain social solidarity and a nation intact.<\/p>\n
Such a solidarity, he said, can be found in people of the same
\nethnicity or religion.<\/p>\n
\"But in modern states, it is exactly these ties which are felt
\nas a threat towards the state and national unity,\" he pointed
\nout.<\/p>\n
Lev called for a re-orientation towards minorities and
\nreligion. Instead of seeing them as a threat, he said, they
\nshould be regarded as strengths in a republic and treated fairly.<\/p>\n
Political reformation in a state is only possible through a
\nbottom-up, decentralized process, he said, which would be
\ndifficult for most governments to achieve.<\/p>\n
\"A republic requires the state to be not so powerful and for
\nthe people to be capable of taking care of themselves,\" he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
When asked for his opinion, Emil Salim replied that Lev and
\nhis views reflected a \"pessimist\".<\/p>\n
\"There are external forces that keep developing which the
\ngovernment cannot control. This is a sure factor which can
\n'force' the government to put the people's interests above that
\nof a small group of people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited the globalization of everything from economies, the
\nAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, information and NGO
\nactivities as such forces.<\/p>\n
\"Trends like these cannot be overlooked and that is why there
\nis always a reason to be optimistic,\" Emil said.(pwn)<\/p>",
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