Nothing wrong with academics in politics, say scholars
Nothing wrong with academics in politics, say scholars
By Pandaya
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Should scholars be allowed to enter politics, or should they distance themselves from it to maintain their integrity as members of the intelligentsia?
There was a time not so long ago when scholars, particularly political scientists, were seen as selling their souls the moment they joined a political organization.
That is now changing. It now appears to be acceptable for scholars to involve themselves in politics. But yes, their integrity is at risk of being doubted by their students and by the public.
More and more scholars are no longer ashamed of making their political affiliation known to the public. Some have even joined political organizations and helped set up the intellectual department of the political parties. Others are even at the forefront, helping in election campaigns and running for House of Representatives seats.
A number of members of the Association of Indonesian Political Scientists who were attending a seminar here last week do not see anything wrong with the trend.
The association's chairman, Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, and Maswadi Rauf of the University of Indonesia, both say there is nothing wrong with academics joining a political organization nowadays.
"Intellectuals in political organizations are tremendous resources who can contribute their ideas for all spectrums in public," Nazaruddin told The Jakarta Post Thursday.
Beneficial
It is mutually beneficial, the two scholars contend.
The political parties would greatly enhance their positions, image and prestige if they could recruit more scholars, including political scientists.
Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) must now compete to win the hearts and minds of intellectuals if they really mean to innovate, they said.
Golkar has been at the forefront in the race. In fact the ruling party has for a long time been aided by members of the intellectual community, but most worked behind the scenes providing expert advise. Some eventually found their way into top government positions which bode well for Soeharto's preference for technocrats rather than politicians to serve in his cabinet.
But only recently has Golkar established a department of intellectuals, led by Din Syamsudin, designed precisely to draw more of them into its fold.
The idea caught on the PDI, and only recently PPP. The two have been aggressively recruiting intellectuals.
PPP, finding a shortage of volunteers, opted to hold regular talks with scholars to benefit from their expertise. Its experience with the first scholar to join the party, economist Sri Bintang Pamungkas, has not been a happy experience. Due to the scholar's outspokenness, he has now become a liability rather than an asset the conservative PPP leaders can be proud of.
Job
PDI, an alliance of Christian and nationalist forces, has enlisted Kwik Kian Gie, and more recently Mochtar Buchori, a major scoop because he hails from the Moslem organization Muhammadiyah. Mochtar's move however has cost him his job as rector at the Muhammadiyah teacher's training institute in Jakarta.
Nazaruddin and Maswadi say scholars have different, sometimes "very personal" motives when they decide to jump into the political jungle.
"Seats in the House of Representatives are the ultimate goal. What else ? Academics don't get paid for their work in political organizations," Nazaruddin says.
But Maswadi theorizes that money is not everything for intellectuals who serve political organizations. "It's rather a way of self-expression and self-satisfaction."
Maswadi criticizes the Muhammadiyah central executive board for firing Mochtar Buchori from his rectorship.
"Muhamadiyah made a big mistake when it dismissed Mochtar Buchori because every citizen has the right to channel their aspirations with any legitimate organization. And the right is guaranteed by law," he says.
Maswadi says the PPP and PDI need to continue pursuing intellectuals.
"It's good to hear more people say `I am a PDI or PPP member' without hesitation. We should appreciate their courage," he said.
Maswadi and Nazaruddin agreed that academics wanting to affiliate with any of the three political organizations must not be too pre-occupied about people mocking their integrity.
What matters, according to Maswadi, is that the intellectuals have to think thoroughly before deciding which party they want to affiliate with so that they don't voice something which is against their conscience, or lie too much to the voters when defending their organization's principles.