A paradigm loss, not paradise lost

Aloys Budi Purnomo, Contextual Theologian Pontifical Faculty of Theology "Wedabhakti", Yogyakarta, aloybudipurnomo@plasa.com

In Indonesia, politics in future will have to engage with a new paradigm of the political aesthetic. If politics has not had an aesthetic experience, if politicians as a whole have not had it, if they are taught only the throne of power, all will die, little by little! Whether or not politicians have the political aesthetic, they are mediocre men and women not to be trusted with such great promises for the entire nation of Indonesia.

Yet, in the darkest hours of the endless multidimensional crisis, I will declare that a paradigm on the political aesthetic is most urgently needed in Indonesia. Within the context of a lack of paradigm on the political aesthetic, however, we believe that there is a paradigm loss, not paradise lost!

Indonesia's 2004 election should provide for our nation to be able to rebuild itself from its destruction by constructing a new paradigm on a political aesthetic! It means the art of political democracy should be engraved in truth and justice. Art, truth and justice represent three aspects of the manifestation of politics.

With regard to politics in Indonesia, we should note that the political aesthetic is still far from our hopes and ideals. That politics should be the art of public services for the sake of all people in Indonesia is irrevocable!

Within the context of Europe in the eighteenth century, which was barbarian, egotistic, materialistic and full of people who were disunited because of unsatisfactory sociopolitical conditions, Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805) prophesied the importance of the political aesthetic as the way to freedom. He was a leading 18th century German dramatist, poet, historian and literary theorist. The political aesthetic would be an instrument for the moral and political education of man. For him, the political aesthetic was a moral symbol: Art plus beauty was conducive to a moral life. That is the political aesthetic, the art of political education for humankind. It is the way to build a humane and just civil society.

To some extent, democracy in Indonesia is also fragmented because of rotten politicians who ignore the political aesthetic: There is no aesthetic experience of politics in Indonesia. According to Italian poet and politician Dante Allighieri (1265- 1321), however, politics should be an aesthetic expression for the glorification of God through humankind, to whom much has been given as justice, peace and wealth.

Politics, then, should be full of fascinating experiences for the people. Thus, politics should be the art of holiness that produces justice, peace and wealth for all mankind.

However, it is a pity that political democracy in Indonesia has left the country in ruins because of the activities of rotten politicians! As a result, civilization in Indonesia lacks a sense of its own destiny. Politics is bereft of aesthetic qualities unless it relies on the experience of God!

Politics in Indonesia has been dimmed indeed due to bad politicians, whose mentality, action and attitude are reprehensible and irresponsible. They have no concept of the political aesthetic, such that the nation finds itself in a runaway situation, socially, economically and politically.

Indonesia's transition to democracy in the post-Soeharto era carries no sign yet of the political aesthetic. Public services lack humanity in their quality or delivery. The political aesthetic, as idealized by Friedrich, Dante and many Indonesians, has not been made manifest yet! Unless a political aesthetic is established in Indonesia, the nation will destroy its people and cast them aside for the sake of power!

The multiparty system in Indonesia's 2004 election is really urging both the people and would-be leaders to participate much more in the democratic life of this country. But the plethora of politicians participating in the dynamics of democracy has not improved the sociopolitical situation. Rather, it has become more sophisticated and confusing.

It is caused by the two axioms of authoritarian power, in which the history of endless power is replayed: L'etat c'est moi (I am the state), is one. (This was the famous articulation of authoritarian power by Louis XIV of France.) Second, the corrupt approach to gaining power by ignoring ethical considerations is stronger than ever before.

The lack of a consistent commitment to wipe out corruption, the formation of coalitions merely to gain power, the rise of New Order politicians and the Supreme Court's exoneration of Akbar Tandjung all indicate extremely well the two aspects of authoritarianism and power: endless power and its rotten orientation.

In the language of Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987), American psychologist and a leader in moral education, the politicians of Indonesia do not have a vision of the political aesthetic, and are marked by five characteristics.

First, they have a materialistic mentality. They seem so religiously faithful in their attitudes, as verbally expressed, but their daily lives indicate that they are indeed atheists in practice. Their vertical faith toward God is not supported by their horizontal love toward others.

Second, their speeches are full of false election campaign promises: They are wolves in sheep's clothing. After gaining power, they forget everything they have promised. Because of their worldliness power tends to corrupt them. Behold, there lies anarchy!

Third, is political opportunism, the practice of using a situation unfairly to gain advantage for themselves without thinking how their actions will affect other people. They use politics as though it were a business commodity! Their status is commercialized in the pursuit of self-aggrandizement.

Fourth, there are so many politicians marked by insincerity. The important thing for them is to create an artificially attractive impression but ignore the oppressed, the weak and the poor. Generally, they do not care about morals and principles, as if such things had nothing to do with them.

Last but not least, politicians who lack the political aesthetic usually and easily misuse the law. They may demonstrate idealism for truth and justice, but this is merely lip service. Do not waste your breath trying to convince them. They know well how to succeed with impunity through the use of clever strategies. For us, impunity is a much-used word today. In Indonesia, the call to end impunity before the law is utterly naive!

Under such circumstances, we all have the right to ask: When will the political aesthetic exist for us? When will Indonesia be able to achieve truth, justice and peace for all as a manifestation of the political aesthetic? Do we seriously hope to eliminate corruption? May we change barbaric, vulgar, and amoral political behavior via the political aesthetic?

All of these questions can only be answered if we rebuild our paradigm on the political aesthetic for Indonesia. Again, we believe that it is a paradigm loss, not paradise lost! So, we still have hope that the possibility of capturing the political aesthetic for Indonesia will prevail! The 2004 election is a golden opportunity for us to do so!