Prosperity only way to democracy, says UI scholar
Prosperity only way to democracy, says UI scholar
JAKARTA (JP): Prosperity will beget democracy in Indonesia as
it has in other newly industrialized Asian countries, believes
academic Nazaruddin Sjamsudin.
"Economic development is a pre-condition for democracy and
political development," Nazaruddin said at the University of
Indonesia.
The increasing prosperity of the Indonesian people after 25
years of development has fueled the demand for more political
openness. To this, he added, the government has responded
positively.
Despite the banning of several magazines and other unpopular
moves, the government "appears to have allowed the wind of
democracy to blow" in Indonesia, he said, citing worker strikes
as an example. Once considered taboo, strikes are not only normal
occurrences now but also widely covered by the media.
Nazaruddin presented his paper at the university's 46th
anniversary and graduation ceremony on Saturday.
Nazaruddin, a professor from the university's School of Social
and Political Sciences, said that the New Order government of
President Soeharto has faithfully followed the slogan "Economy
Yes, Politics No" since it came into existence in 1966, when the
country's economy was in shambles.
For the next 25 years, he said, the government has pursued
political stability to ensure economic progress.
"The situation is now far different. The current popular
slogan is Economy Yes, Politics Yes," said the 51-year-old who
obtained his masters degree and PhD in political science from
Monash University in Australia.
He recalled Indonesia's experience of putting political
development first during the parliamentary democracy era in the
1950s, which, he said, proved disastrous to the economy as well
as the political situation.
Nazaruddin said many East and Southeast Asian countries,
including Singapore and Malaysia, have become industrialized by
putting economic development before political development.
In other Asian countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, people
are facing prolonged political turmoil and their economies are
falling behind, he said.
The merits and shortcomings of Indonesia's experience, he
argued, must be measured against the experience of other Asian
countries.
"The basis for the development of democracy here will not come
from some political policies or maneuvers. It is coming from the
successful economic development.
"Nor was it born out of external pressures, as some people
would have us believe. The international community cannot impose
democracy on us if the very basis for it has not developed in our
society," he added.
"Our experience shows that our ability to implement democracy
improves in line with the increasing prosperity of the people,
although not as rapidly as the economic growth rate."
Nazaruddin said the main obstacle to the development of
democracy in Indonesia is the huge proportion of economically
weak people and the millions living below the poverty line.
For this reason, he suggested that Indonesia distinguish
between economic democracy and political democracy, and pursue
the first rather than the latter.
"This way we can prevent as well as overcome the economic
disparity that appears to be the driving force behind the demands
for political democracy," he said. (31)