Indonesia's general elections: Nation-builders at work

Indonesia's general elections: Nation-builders at work

Craig Charney and Tim Meisburger, The Straits Times, Asia News Network,
Singapore

Four years ago, an unlikely TV star was born here. She wasn't
a sexy young thing plugging cellphones. A grey-haired crone in
traditional Javanese patchwork dress, she rasped, "This time,
make up your own mind". Some 62 million people saw the United
States-funded advertisement in which she urged women to vote for
their own choices, not their husbands'. The slogan became a
national catchphrase.

During Indonesia's first free elections in 1999, and again
this year in its second, U.S.-backed voter education programs
strengthened this fledgling democracy. Four years ago, joint
projects by overseas and local groups built up public confidence
in elections and democratic values. This year, they helped
empower voters to hold officials to account.

Though outside attention focused on Islamist terror here --
exemplified by the Sept. 9 Australian Embassy bombing -- and the
presidential elections, something even more important is
happening in this country. Democracy is taking root in the
world's largest Muslim nation, and U.S. aid is helping.

This success challenges the fashionable skepticism about U.S.
attempts at "nation building", particularly in Islamic countries.
The problems of nation-builders in Iraq and Afghanistan, which
dominate debate on the topic, underline the fact that foreign aid
cannot cure all the ills of fragile new "democracies". But the
Indonesian case shows how well-planned democracy promotion can be
a good investment.

In 1999, the year after Soeharto's dictatorship was
overthrown, a multi-million-dollar U.S.-funded voter education
drive was launched to help lay the foundation for free elections.
The U.S. Agency for International Development and other overseas
funders supported private groups, such as the Asia Foundation, in
this effort. They sponsored polls to gauge voters' knowledge of
democracy and helped local pro-democracy groups plan and run
voter education and election monitoring campaigns.

Their messages went out everywhere: Via TV spots and serials,
radio, newspapers, leaflets, comic books, posters -- even
housewives' shopping bags! Some 85 percent of the 132 million
voters were exposed to the non-partisan education effort. The
campaign described the new election rules and monitors that would
halt the election fraud that marked Soeharto's 33-year rule,
promoted political tolerance and democratic values and -- as in
the Javanese woman's ad -- challenged women to assert themselves.

Two-thirds of those who repeatedly saw or heard such messages
thought the election would make a difference, compared to just
one-fourth of those with no such exposure. Some 77 percent of
voter education recipients were tolerant towards parties they
disliked, versus 46 percent among voters with none.

Women who saw the "Make up your own mind" ad were 16 points
likelier to think women should do just that.

Most remarkably, nine in 10 voter education recipients had
some idea of what democracy might mean -- against just three in
10 among those it never reached. Recent polls showed that
Indonesians have retained the understanding of democracy,
political tolerance and confidence in democratic elections they
had gained in 1999. This was underscored by the 85 percent
turnout in April's parliamentary elections and July's first round
of presidential voting.

Since Indonesian voters are now familiar with free elections,
voter education efforts this year sought to increase the
political system's responsiveness to the electorate. Projects
included distributing vast numbers of election guides to help
voters compare parties on the issues; leaflets on what they can
demand of their representatives; TV ads urging them to use their
vote to voice their demands; and posters calling on women to
consider women's issues in voting. An evaluation of one major
campaign showed it reached three voters in four. The aims
included raising citizens' awareness that they can influence
their government and encouraging issue-based campaigns by
candidates.

Despite its political progress, Indonesia still faces major
social problems -- joblessness, inflation and corruption -- and
these have produced widespread dissatisfaction. The bombing last
month, following earlier attacks in Bali and Jakarta, brought
terrorism to the fore again. In July's ballot, voter discontent
put President Megawati Soekarnoputri behind Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, her former security minister, and eliminated a general
representing Soeharto's Golkar party. Yudhoyono led Megawati two-
to-one in the polls in this month's run-off, but surveys before
the July vote had overstated his support and under-reported hers,
leaving the outcome uncertain.

Yet, the real winner in Indonesia's election is democracy
itself. July's vote, universally seen as free and fair, was
termed a "model of Islamic democracy" by The Economist. Despite
public discontent with government, no one advocates or expects a
return to dictatorship.

Indeed, the elimination of the Golkar candidate and reaction
against Ms Megawati's shortcomings in July's ballot reflected the
success of democracy-building efforts, not failure. The
mainspring of democratic accountability is the electors' ability
to "throw the rascals out", which Indonesians have learnt they
possess. Voters -- not back-room deal-makers -- are in charge
now.

Indonesians appreciate the contribution foreign aid has made
to this process. In a poll last month, over 80 percent of the
public said non-governmental electoral education and monitoring
projects helped promote understanding of democracy and ensure
free elections, and over 70 percent favored international support
for such programs.

Our experience in Indonesia thus offers America some rare good
news from the Muslim world. With supportive local partners and a
sympathetic public, nation-building can make a difference -- and
earn kudos -- too.

Tim Meisburger is the Asia Foundation's elections program
manager, based in Jakarta. Craig Charney is president of Charney
Research, a New York polling firm, which conducted surveys in
Indonesia for the foundation in 1999 and last year.