Middle class is nobody's fool: Expert
Middle class is nobody's fool: Expert
SALATIGA, Central Java (JP): Indonesia's middle class, a burgeoning group with growing political clout, cannot become a tool for either the lower or the upper class, a political scientist says.
The middle class has its own interests to fight for, and will unlikely yield, at least not consciously, to serve the interests of either the working or rural masses, or the ruling elite, Ariel Heryanto of the Salatiga-based Satya Wacana Christian University said yesterday.
If in the process of fighting for its best interests, some benefits trickle down to the lower class, they are largely incidental, Ariel told The Jakarta Post.
He was commenting on a statement reportedly made by Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung about the potential role of the middle class in "aggregating and articulating" the interests of the lower class. Feisal's remarks were apparently made last week during a meeting with leaders of Muhammadiyah, a Moslem organization, in Denpasar, Bali.
"I don't think we can expect much from the middle class in Indonesia on behalf of the lower class," Ariel said.
On the contrary, the moment the middle class tries to articulate the interests of the lower class, it is serving the interests of the upper class because it is diminishing the demands of the lower class, he said.
Indonesian scholars agree that the middle class in Indonesia is rising and is slowly becoming a political force that the country's rulers have to take into account.
The middle class comprises mostly of business people, intellectuals, students, and professionals including journalists. Although rising, their political role has been limited so far.
In comparison, in many newly industrialized countries like South Korea, the middle class has been the main driving force for democracy.
Ariel said the middle class is highly diversified and has assorted interests. One thing they have in common is that they are highly critical. At times they could turn radical if forced to but at other times they could become opportunistic, he added.
On the quest for greater democracy, Ariel said students play a role because they tend to be more progressive compared to other groups in the middle class. But student movements tend to be short-lived because they comprise largely of volunteers.
"I think, in the long run, entrepreneurs and professionals are the ones among the middle class who could make a real difference, because they have a larger stake compared to students," he said. (har/emb)