Document Library

Democratization in Indonesia: An Assessment

Author: International IDEA
Date: 2000
Size: 283 pages (2.13 MB)

Access full text: available online

Summary

The fall of President Soeharto in 1998 triggered and created opportunity for democratic reform in Indonesia. What are the compelling democratisation issues for the government and the people of Indonesia? What recommendations can be made about the direction of the ongoing reform? This paper, a product of the Forum for Democratic Reform facilitated by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, identifies the core issues for review and offers extensive recommendations for democratic reform in Indonesia.

Key Indonesian stakeholders identified and covered seven sectors of Indonesian state and society that form the comprehensive reform agenda. These are constitutionalism and the rule of law, regional autonomy, civil-military relations, civil society, socio-economic development, gender and religious pluralism.

The transition to democracy depends upon specific foundations, which represent an overhaul of all political, social and economic institutions in Indonesia. The core issues of a comprehensive reform agenda include:

• Constitutional and legal reforms to support the transition to democracy. While many issues can be addressed from outside the constitutional framework, it is the constitution that sets the framework for implementation through legislation.
• Regional autonomy to ensure inclusive political participation and effective public administration and development throughout Indonesia. Democratic decentralisation is important, as well as mechanisms for inter- and intra-conflict prevention.
• Redefining civil-military relations to ensure the supremacy of elected representatives. Removal of the army from the politics, and a definition of the role of the military in Indonesia's emerging democracy are crucial.
• Improving the role, functioning and position of civil society as both a watchdog of, and contributor to, decision-making processes. Increasing the access of media to information and changing of school curricula form good examples.
• Increasing women's active participation in politics and society. It is also important to bring women's issues to the foreground of policy discussion at all levels of government and society.
• Addressing fundamental inequalities and tensions in society resulting from socio-economic exclusion and religious prejudice. A re-negotiation of the relationship between state and religion is an important long-term goal.

Sustainable, humanistic democratic development is a vital anchor for good governance. Indonesia's supporters within the international community can identify elements integral to their programmatic support. The recommendations for international policymakers include:

• While the international community should assist the process of democratic reform in the future, the ultimate responsibility of building and managing institutions lies with the Indonesian people themselves.
• Support from the international community, especially the donor community, is needed to guarantee the smooth running of the economic decentralisation process.
• Gender issue capacity building can benefit from the experience of international experts who offer necessary resources and can facilitate or mediate cross-sector dialogues.

Access full text: available online

Source: International IDEA, 2000, ‘Democratization in Indonesia: An Assessment’, copyright © International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm
Author: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, http://www.idea.int/