The Challenge of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Local Level: Become Pragmatic or an Accelerator of a Good Governance?

Abstract

This study focused on the interaction of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government bureaucracy. This type of study used qualitative descriptive studies, concluded that the interaction between NGOs and government bureaucracy in Jember is still hard to actuate a good governance. It’s caused NGOs still focus their orientation on interests of individuals or each groups, so that less favors the interests of the community. occurred because the typology of Government Bureaucracy was more dominant on conservative rather than visionary. On the other hand the typology of NGOs in Jember dominantly was also more pragmatic (NGOs were affiliated on businessmen, officials, political parties and economical interests) compared to NGOs that are idealistic. So that in doing the interaction, government bureaucracy and NGOs more dominant only oriented on pragmatic interests mere ( individually, group ) than to public interest. It occurred because the typology of NGOs were more dominantly on pragmatic orientation (NGOs are affiliated on businessmen, officials, political parties and economical interests) compared to NGOs that are idealistic. Secondly, government bureaucracy in Jember is more dominant bureaucrats who are conservative compared to bureaucrats who are visionary. It is not only dominantly on the amount of but also in the position of its bureaucrats that average be in leaders level, so it tends to create a bad governance. Key word: Government Bureaucracy, NGOs, Interactions and Good Governance Public participation on order of democratic government requires the existence of public engagement in the decision-making process which is increasingly important in the era of regional autonomy. The implementation of regional autonomy by law (UU) No. 32 of 2004 concerning to Regional Governments, have brought major changes in each segment of the organization of Local Governance. Within the implementation of regional autonomy, local governance identified irregularities and doing a lot of misperceptions about the regional autonomy. Therefore, the role of the community in being critically participating and contributing in Government must be organized well, one of them is by joining non-governmental organizations (NGOs), it is important to maximize the contribution of the community to encourage good governance process. The establishment of many NGOs become the important point to get attention from the committee of government, because the existence of NGOs is expected to prop up the process of governance done by government bureaucracy as the committee of government, to run it well and proportionate. It is also in accordance with UU No 17 / 2007 about National Long-Term Development Programs Planning (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional/ RPJPN) about the importance of providing the role of civil society in democratic governance. But that must be noticed, that the NGO contribution to governance and the consolidation of democracy does not happen by itself, there must be an interaction with the other party for instance by government bureaucracy, so that what is done by NGOs was later able to contribute a more visible in governance. The form of NGOs contribution which is customarily done in governance is to actively involved in the policy stages (formulations, implementations and policy evaluations). With the involvement of NGOs in policy stages is expected to become a strategic partner in governance. Especially in the era of decentralization like now, the authority given by the central government to local governments is very large and broad, it becomes an opportunity as well as a challenge for NGOs to be in partnership with local government to improve its service to community. The Governments of Jember which have been carried out the regional autonomy since the beginning of decentralization enacted, is considered necessary by the writer to be noticed and review how important the relations is between the interaction of government bureaucracy with the NGOs in governance. Moreover, Jember has the unique characteristics named Pandalungan, which is culture of java and madurese mixed and also dominated by culture of moslem students “Santri” with political conditions, social that is dynamic, who indirectly encourage the establishment of NGOs in Jember, based on data released by National Unity Political The Challenge of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Local Level: Become Pragmatic or an www.iosrjournals.org 30 | Page and Community Resilience of Jember (Bakesbangpol and Linmas) indicating that there are at least 141 NGOs legally registered in 2010. The condition seems, bares the excitement of society to engage in administering government, to control the way that was formerly difficult due to lack of space provided by the government. Based on the description above hence this article will talk about “The interaction between bureaucracy government and NGOs in Jember in implementing good governance”. I. Pragmatism of non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Its challenges in Jember Fair role of local government broadly to run the process of decentralizing, indirectly also causes the establishment of NGO in local, NGOs expected to bring people aspirations and become an effective controlling machine in administering government, besides the formal institution, as The District Legislative Council (DPRD II). A huge expectation to NGOs role occurred due to lots of authority misuse done by government. Based on data released by Ministry of Currents Affairs (Kemendagri ), there are 318 Region Heads being entangled corruption ( Metro TV, in a footnote, february 14 2014 ). Based on studies that have been carried out by previous author in Jember, it’s caused by pile authority that belongs to the Government bureaucracy, and also on the other hand the supervision carried out by DPRD II is often not optimally. The condition is caused by government bureaucracy in Jember already fragmented into two groups, such as: Conservative Bureaucrats and Visionary bureaucrats. Conservative Bureaucrats are more dominant compared to visionary. It is not only dominantly on the amount of but also in the position of its bureaucrats that average be in leaders level. Followings are reviews of bureaucrats condition in Jember: