Political Banality in Indonesia Post-New Order

Mukhtar Sarman

doi:10.5539/jpl.v12n1p64

Abstract

Democratization not only needs to be based on changes in a more democratic political structure, but it is also important to be supported by changes in the behavior of elites involved in political contestation. This article discusses the process of political democratization in Indonesia after the authoritarian New Order regime. The democratization process begins with changes in political structure, which are manifested in the form of various pro-democratic laws and regulations. This includes the implementation of direct regional head election, which are political contestations at the local level. The result was a significant change in political dynamics in the form of involving voters in the process of regional head election. At first everyone tends to recognize the success of political reforms that have changed the face of local democracy in Indonesia. However, after one election period took place, the ideals of democratization in Indonesia seemed to be ignored by political actors. Even politicians tend to display banal political behavior, and do not care about political decay traps, solely in order to win a political contestation. Elite, as the main stakeholder actor, has failed to show that they are able to practice democratic principles that uphold moral integrity.

Highlights

In 1998, there was the beginning of the spring of democracy in Indonesia, known as "political reform"
The following article may be included in the pessimistic stronghold, but the analysis focuses on one main issue, namely whether the substance of structural changes in the form of legislation that underlies political democratization in Indonesia can be understood by the parties, and triggers the integrity of local elites to practice the rules the nature of democracy in the contestation that involved them
The prominent of political banality phenomenon in the process of institutionalizing political contestation was a sign that the parties involved in the contestation were as if they were unable or unprepared for democracy, as demanded by advocates of the liberal democratic system

Summary

Introduction

In 1998, there was the beginning of the spring of democracy in Indonesia, known as "political reform". President Habibie, as successor to President Soeharto, agreed with the elites to reconstruct Indonesia's democracy, starting with the publication of a number of Political Laws in 1999, that underlies the accelerated legislative elections in 1999. The implementation of accelerated elections involved 48 political parties, an extraordinary number of election participants because when the New Order era participated it was limited to only two political parties (PPP/The United Development Party, an Islam-based political party, and PDI/Indonesian Democratic Party, as nasionalis-based political party) plus Golkar (Golkar Party), as a political vehicle of the ruling regime. The implementation of accelerated elections was assessed by many foreign observers and international observers as elections who were truly able to display an honest and fair side of political democracy (see for example Antlov and Cederoth, 2004). The presidential election can be implemented well, and looks very democratic, because the contestants who fight can accept the election results without significant objections (see for example Schwarz, 2004; Ananta et al, 2005)

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion