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.