Democracy and Local Autonomy: Looking Back at The Practice of Local Democracy in The Style of the New Order

Democracy actually looks very complicated, even though democracy remains an ideal that is always fought for. Robert Dahl calls it a theory (process) of democracy. Of course it is noted that the transition of the local-state (central government) to the national-state implies a modification in the democratic process. Therefore, the importance of democracy for each nation state is relative. However, according to the author, democracy is necessary and important to implement in this country, because democracy is a form of government that promises justice. The Founding Fathers, legal and government experts from the beginning chose democracy as a working reference in running the government of the Indonesian nation.

In the existing reality, the implementation of democratic principles does not reach its ideal format. The power holders in this country, apart from those who call themselves democratic regimes, have also suppressed democratic principles. Even democracy is messed up its substance with other government mechanisms. It can be said that democracy in this country is mixed, so that democracy can only be displayed at the formal level or become the grip of the regime so that it is not called authoritarian or dictatorial.

In this state, we can trace several regimes that have twisted and even tampered with the principles of democracy with other principles. The goal is to consolidate his power not for anything else. What is still recorded in memory is the strength of the New Order regime and the current regime. During the New Order era, the applied democracy was procedural. Meanwhile, at present the democracy that is practiced is democracy which is not in line with the order and principles of democracy. It might be said to be in shambles because the democracy that is implemented is an amalgamation of democratic practices: procedural, delibrative, substantive. The system of government is the same, combining presidential and parliamentary systems. This merger can be seen from the construction of the United Indonesia Cabinet Volumes I and II which were the result of the coalition winning the election with the ruling party.

An example of a government that has distorted democracy is the New Order government (Orde Baru). It is an example of a very terrible abuse of people's political power and is an example of a state that actually ignores the power of the people/civil society. For almost thirty-two years, the Indonesian people have lost their political awareness through the authoritarian political machine run by the New Order regime. The New Order also built political legitimacy through a violent approach (coercive/repressive) which resulted in the weak control and critical power of society, especially civil society, to balance the power and control the government's power.

In such conditions, how is autonomy interpreted politically? Regional autonomy is not necessarily good in a regime that pretends to be democratic. Regional autonomy is essentially the distribution of power and that means it is part of the implementation of normative democracy. But when democracy is only carried out at the normative level, the power relations between the center-local/regional-society also run in a normative order as well. It is irrelevant if we say democracy is on the way to democratic transition.

Democracy which is always assumed to be in transition will find it difficult to achieve real democracy. Can you criticize, where is the transition from democracy? The political reality of regional autonomy is often a reference for measuring the existence of substantive and deliberative democracy. local/Regional autonomy and democracy are a series of rational activities that are reciprocal since democracy in this country is in the reform/post-New Order constellation.

The implementation of local/regional autonomy has given rise to various democratic practices that are difficult to name with certain concepts, because they do not exist in a democratic order. The contestation between elites to advance to become a candidate for regional head (Regent/deputy Regent, Governor/deputy Governor, mayor/deputy mayor) is not encouraged to run democracy, but to gather power by using political vehicles called political parties. Anyone can buy a political vehicle if it can generate real power in the form of material/money or power.


Komentar

Posting Komentar

Postingan populer dari blog ini

Carok Research 2021

Gambar
 The most dangerous effect of carok is vengeance. There is a struggle between symbolic power and symbolic power. In Maduranese culture, symbolic power lies in both men and women. In carok there are a series of values in the form of a show of real power and symbolic power: protecting and maintaining the honor and dignity that is inherent by individuals.  Therefore, if someone interferes with their existence (interfering with their symbolic power) then the individual will act in a carok way. This matter formed the structure of an aggressive mindset among the Madurese community then. They consider that the ability of carok is an act that is appreciated in the Madurese society. Thus, carok is legitimized and accepted as a socially cultural 'right' act.
Baca selengkapnya

Collective Violence/Social Movement of Student?

Gambar
Lately, students' moral movement is rare transformed into a political movement, except for gain power. Student violence incident in the city of Makassar-South Sulawesi, has tarnished the world of education student height and existence. Student as part of community life, partisanship students in the interests of society do not use violent and disruptive means public interest. Violent action base students are ethical/moral values and reason, and it becomes a reference in every action the horns. Students have a need to self-actualization, and this manifests itself in the role of social life through his thinking and leadership in activities in the community. Violence run by students can be understood as strategy to win the battle between student/student group by line ethnic and ideological. can't be denied, there is a role from the local political context of the city of Makassar and national against the occurrence of acts of violence and student vandalism. Student violence tends to
Baca selengkapnya

The significance of studying Political Science: Teaching Activities 2022

Gambar
 The Political Science major of Airlangga University teach their scholars to master some essential skills that will help you obtaining success on your career. Most college assignments have their own way to develop every scholar’s skills. There are also a number of courses that teach you specific skills to read, understand, and provide solutions to political and governmental problems. These special skills are acquired through practical lectures in the field (practicing in applying qualitative methods, conducting in-depth interviews, describing political institutions, political parties, political movements, student demonstrations, strikes and labor demonstrations in urban areas, and so forth). Practical lectures by the field are intended to train scholars to argue qualitatively and quantitatively/statistically. The significance of studying Political Science is that it can improve critical thinking skills, gaining the ability to argue over critical argumentation, analytical writing skills
Baca selengkapnya