When Democracy Loses Its Decorum: A Note for a Nation in Transition

By: Azis Subek_ti, Doctoral Student in Law at UAI, Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Fraction.

There is a great irony growing in many democratic nations in the 21st century. The wider the freedom of speech humans possess, the harder it becomes to find conversations that sincerely seek the truth. The more open democratic spaces become, the easier it is for anger to masquerade as courage. The more people claim to fight for the people, the less they are truly willing to listen to one another.

This phenomenon is not occurring only in Indonesia. It is happening in the United States, divided by political polarisation. It is happening in Europe, which faces waves of populism and a crisis of trust in institutions. It is happening in various countries that have discovered that freedom does not automatically produce wisdom.

Democracy indeed grants humans the right to speak. However, democracy never guarantees that humans will use that right well. This is where the greatest test of a nation truly begins. It is not when the people lack freedom, but when the people possess such vast freedom that they slowly lose the etiquette required to use it.

In recent years, Indonesia’s public sphere has shown symptoms that warrant collective reflection. Criticism of the government continues to flow. Demonstrations take place. The media performs its oversight function. Academics, activists, students, and civil society convey diverse views. All of these are essential parts of democratic life.