The Role of Students as Social Control Against the Rise of Corruption in Indonesia
Corruption is not merely a legal violation but a real threat to the nation’s future. Every rupiah misappropriated represents a reduction in the public’s right to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and welfare. In this context, students must not remain mere spectators. As agents of change and social control, students bear a moral responsibility to oversee state policies, monitor government administration, and instil an anti-corruption culture to realise an honourable Indonesia.
Corruption remains one of the greatest challenges facing Indonesia. Corrupt practices not only damage state finances but also hinder development, widen social inequality, and erode public trust in the government and state institutions. Therefore, the eradication of corruption cannot be the sole burden of law enforcement agencies; it requires the active participation of all elements of society, including students.
Students hold a strategic position as an intellectual group capable of critical thinking, conducting research, and conveying public aspirations scientifically and responsibly. Indonesian history demonstrates that students have always been essential in driving social change and demanding clean governance free from corrupt practices.
Corruption as a Threat to the Nation
Corruption is the abuse of office or authority for personal or group gain. Its impact is widespread, ranging from state financial losses and declining public service quality to hindered development and increased poverty. Corruption also weakens public trust in state institutions. When the public loses faith in the government, democratic stability can be compromised. Consequently, eradicating corruption must be a shared responsibility through the strengthening of legal systems, transparency, accountability, and the cultivation of an anti-corruption culture from an early age.
The Role of Students as Social Control
As social control, students have a responsibility to oversee government operations to ensure they adhere to the principles of justice, transparency, and accountability. This role can be realised through various activities, including:
Conducting scientific reviews of public policy.
Delivering objective criticism based on data and facts.
Organising seminars, discussions, and anti-corruption campaigns.
Writing scientific articles and opinion pieces in the mass media.
Educating the public on the dangers of corruption.
Serving as role models by applying values of honesty in academic life.
Research shows that students play a strategic role in building an anti-corruption culture, both through student organisations and anti-corruption education within universities.
The Importance of an Anti-Corruption Culture Among Students
Resistance to corruption does not begin when one becomes an official, but within the university environment. Behaviours such as cheating, falsifying data, proxy attendance, or misappropriating organisational funds are forms of dishonesty that can become the seeds of a corrupt culture if left unchecked. Therefore, higher education institutions play a crucial role in shaping student character through anti-corruption education and the habituation of values such as integrity, responsibility, discipline, courage, and concern for the public interest.
Challenges in Performing the Social Control Function
Students face various challenges in exercising social control, such as low legal literacy, the spread of misinformation, apathy towards public issues, and political or social pressures. To face these challenges, students must prioritise academic ethics, strengthen literacy culture, conduct data-based studies, and deliver criticism politely and in accordance with legal provisions. Objective criticism serves as valuable input for the government to improve public policy.
Legal Basis
The role of students in monitoring the eradication of corruption is supported by strong legal foundations, including:
The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia: Article 1 (2) regarding sovereignty in the hands of the people; Article 28E (3) regarding the right to associate, assemble, and express opinions; and Article 28F regarding the right to obtain and convey information.
Law Number 28 of 1999 concerning Clean Governance Free from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism.
Law Number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.
Law Number 9 of 1998 regarding Freedom of Expression in Public.
Law Number 12 of 2012 concerning Higher Education, which asserts that higher education aims to produce graduates who are high in integrity, democratic, and responsible.
Conclusion
Corruption is an extraordinary crime that hinders development and harms the wider community. Therefore, its eradication requires the participation of all elements of the nation, including students. As social control, students have a responsibility to monitor government policies, provide constructive criticism, conduct research, educate the public, and serve as role models in applying anti-corruption values. With integrity, courage, and social concern, students can become pioneers for a generation that rejects all forms of corruption and supports the realisation of clean, transparent, and accountable governance.