Indonesian Jesuit scholar Stefanus Hendrianto has assessed that the\ndemocracy built in Indonesia has never been truly healthy since the\nbeginning of the reform era. The reason, he says, is that Indonesian\ndemocracy has focused solely on electoral competition. \u201cOur democracy\nhas effectively been running in place for the last two decades,\u201d\nHendrianto said during a discussion of his book \u201cDemocracy and the Rule\nof Law in Indonesia\u201d at the CSIS Auditorium in Central Jakarta on\nWednesday, 8 July 2026.<\/p>\n
He also dismissed the notion that the democracy of the 1950s was a\nstate failure. \u201cThe 1950s were a golden age for Indonesia when the\nparliamentary system worked, civilian supremacy was maintained, and the\nelite were committed to democracy,\u201d he stated. In his book, he\nhighlights the 1945 Constitution and the presidential system as the\nsource of Indonesia\u2019s political problems. He proposes replacing the\npresidential system with a parliamentary one and drafting an entirely\nnew constitution, including opening up the possibility of amending the\nPreamble to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Hendrianto further introduced the concept of an adolescent democracy,\ndescribing a society still easily swayed by social assistance politics\nand short-term interests. According to him, this condition shows that a\nmature citizenry in democratic life has yet to be formed. In another\nview, he rejected the notion that polarisation is a threat to democracy.\n\u201cPolarisation is actually good because society has choices, whereas\ncurrently we do not have real ideological differences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also criticised the use of the term oligarchy, deeming it\ninaccurate to explain Indonesia\u2019s condition. Hendrianto prefers the term\nAuthoritarian Constitutionalist Capitalist Regime, a state capitalist\nregime wrapped in a constitution but retaining authoritarian\ncharacteristics. In his final argument, Hendrianto assessed that the\nconcept of the rule of law in Indonesia has shifted into merely an\ninstrument of power. He stressed that hope remains open if the younger\ngeneration dares to carry out fundamental reforms of the state\nadministration system and build a constitution that truly supports\ndemocracy and the rule of law.<\/p>\n
Constitutional law lecturer at Jentera Indonesian Law School, Bivitri\nSusanti, agreed with Hendrianto\u2019s main thesis that Indonesian democracy\nlacks a strong republican foundation. However, she argued that this\nweakness is not solely due to constitutional design but is also\ninfluenced by the legacies of colonialism and the New Order regime,\nwhich have shaped the political culture to this day. Bivitri explained\nthat colonialism left a feudalistic legacy that remains deeply rooted in\nsociety. This condition, she said, is now reinforced by the growth of a\nmilitaristic culture that places obedience to superiors as a primary\nvalue in public life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe essentially never had a good foundation for a republic. Two\nfactors contributed strongly to this: colonialism and the New Order,\u201d\nBivitri said at the same event. She assessed that the New Order also\ndistanced citizens from politics through the concept of the \u2018floating\nmass\u2019 and the slogan \u2018development yes, politics no\u2019. As a result, a\npublic sphere where citizens could discuss common interests on an equal\nfooting never developed optimally. Nevertheless, Bivitri said she agreed\nwith Hendrianto\u2019s proposal to build a new constitution if it can create\nconditions conducive to the growth of republicanism. According to her,\nthe most important thing is not merely replacing the constitutional\ntext, but building a political system that opens more space for public\nconversation, citizen participation, and the birth of new imaginations\nabout the nation\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Bivitri added that hope for Indonesian democracy still exists,\nparticularly through the involvement of the younger generation in\nbuilding sustainable social movements. She stressed that change cannot\nbe achieved solely through elections, but also by cultivating active\ncitizens who safeguard public spaces and oversee democratic life on a\ndaily basis. Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto stated that democracy\nis often coloured by various challenges and dynamics. He said democracy\nis not an easy system to implement. On the contrary, he noted, democracy\nin practice carries various risks, such as challenges, pitfalls, and\nparties attempting to hijack the democratic process for certain\ninterests. \u201cIt is the best system for justice, hope, and inclusivity. We\nmust not give up,\u201d Prabowo said in his welcoming speech to the Indian\ndiaspora at the Indian Community Reception, which was also attended by\nIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jakarta on Tuesday, 7 July\n2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-indonesias-democracy-has-never-been-healthy-since-reformasi-1783504620", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }