political theories

2011-02-28T05:18:00.000-08:00

STATE IN "FACES OF" DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA
(Started from the perspectives institusionalism)

INTRODUCTION

Human life of any world dibelahan not suddenly become nice and neatly arranged, but the will to co-exist with each other with all the agreed rules and avoid the threat from outside its territory then, dibutuhkanlah a container that is called by the State. This simple description can be ascertained not merely a part of the definition of the state but rather a description that can be understood simply. The idea of countries have actually been present since humans were there, that humans as social beings on human beings that have been tucked into a desire to organize. Thus the State as a form of desire to organize, organize life lies in a rough idea of the concept of the state.
In political science kahzanah known there are three groups of countries, namely first trntang theory, the state as a tool. This theory refers to the Marxist view, the state is seen as a tool to fight for the interests of the class of the dominant class. While in Prularis perspective, see state policies as a result of the interaction of social and political forces that exist in society so that the pluralist perspective, the state viewed only as a tool to realize the desire.
Both the structural theory in which this theory to explain the state as an organization that has a certain authority and have relatively the same independence as believed by Napoleon Bona Parte, and was believed also by Goeralmo about the context of state theory.
The three theories of the state as an independent force meant that the country including the subject that has its own interests which may differ from the interests of society. Influence of the state arises because it is legally formal state has the ability to gain more power, both in the joints of bureaucracy and monopoly power.
In certain situations the state in carrying out his will also be able to perform in a repressive approach (violence / coercion) against their people by using the instruments that exist in countries such as the national police and military, if indeed the country is quite appropriate approach to be undertaken.

STATE DEMOCRACY ; INDONESIA
It said a state democracies if the existing political system it uses the concept of democracy, Indonesia after entering the era of reform believe that good democracy as a concept in the implementation of its political system, democracy, according to Robert Dhal, democratic space to talk about the availability of open competition to gain status or position political as well as the availability of spaces of political participation for all citizens. Deeper than it is Robert Dhal stated eight requirements for the establishment of a democratic political system, namely: 1). freedom of association and the coalition, 2) the right to express opinions freely, 3) the right to choose "the right to vote active", 4) the right to choose "passive suffrage", 5) the right to compete for political support from voters, 6) the existence of freedom of information , 7) a free and fair elections, 8) the existence of institutions that enable government policies depend on votes and demands of public preferences.
Although Robert Dhal above views can specify the meaning of democracy more deeply, Lo democracy itself has been present in the philosophy of Indonesia although not wide clarify the concept of democracy is but an expression references and sources such as, "That freedom is the right of all peoples (Preamble 1945), "social justice for all Indonesian people" (precepts to 5 Pancasila) and others can certainly be seen to have an understanding of what is understood as the concept of democracy. When explored further in the real meaning of the above, we will find the views and ideas about human rights, obtain rights of freedom (liberty), the right to get justice.
Of course also democracy is inseparable from a long argumentative struggle between the pros and the cons. Critics also often provide an understanding of democracy and a new formulation of this concept, giving rise to what is by David Held, a prominent political scientist, called "models of democracy" (Held, Models of Democracy. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1996).
Democracy as a positive concept is actually relatively new. In ancient Greece, democracy is a concept that was hated by the bet noire among scientists and educated elite. Even in the European Enlightenment era (18th century), democracy is still a term that is not preferred.
Classical view about the concept of democracy as the will of the people, on the other view, democracy is understood as the result of the first human mind that comes in a form of governance that pertaman time established by the city-state (state city) in Athens, in this present era of democracy is an open discourse and continues to grow in line with the desire to believe in the ability of democracy itself in fulfilling aspects of civil and political rights of the people of Indonesia. The concept of democracy itself must be reflected by the state in the government along with the system which should indeed should mensingkronkan model with the direction of democratic values
John Luck believe that government should be constitutional, and instantly obtain consent from the governed (the people), to complement those of governance. Views Montesqiu relefan enough as a reference who believed that state power should be separated by function, namely legislativ, esekutif, and the judiciary. This view is aptly represented Indonesia with its political system by dividing the power of the state into three parts according to function, namely legislativ, esekutif, and the judiciary.
What is mentioned above in practice INDONESIA still can also be found behaviors that deviate from democracy, the issue of human rights violations such as in Aceh, Tragedy clover I, and II, even a tragedy which, according Contrast triksakti, obviously found the case of gross human rights violations, namely murder. On the other hand proves that the condition of Indonesia bawdy chaos with a commitment to what has been agreed previously, an important agenda agenda looks neglected and that the strongest position as a privileged group such as what was raised Marx's theory of the State.

CONCLUSION
From the description given above, of course to look at countries in the face of democracy in Indonesia, not enough just to move from what is understood as a definition of what is believed to be the state or of the meaning of a concept of democracy, but the critical theory that can be delivered is how can the people of Indonesia absorb the value of democracy is the condition of knowledge and education that exist today. Although true then continue the search conducted by the individuals about the true meaning of democracy is another question arises how the fate of the individuals who have not realized the changes that have occurred in Indonesia.
In view of the Questioning Institusionalism theory is how effective institutions (countries) in performing its role, and also how tangguhkah individual as the executor of the institution. This means that here the role of existing systems such as legislativ, esekutif, and the judiciary in Indonesia if they have been able to play perananya accordance with its function on the other side of the issue of human resources in the three institutions are still warm just talk about the level of existence and kredibilitassanya.
Of the above items have a big impact in building the confidence of the people against the state, when the country was no longer able to provide what the aspirations of intrupsi raktyatnya frontal nature may often occur dindonesia considering the social problems that have not also end solution from countries such as the regional minimum wage issue , Lumpur Lapindo, until the corruption scandals that often comes from the state agency itself.

Strengthening Civil Society in Indonesia; logical consequence realization Good Governance

2011-02-28T03:26:00.000-08:00

Strengthening Civil Society in Indonesia; logical consequence realization Good Governance

By: Rudi Salam Sinaga

Introduction

The discourse on civil society was crowded much talked about in the mid 90s during the Suharto regime’s power peaked kejayaanya, at that moment the discussion of civil society are particularly relevant because it is associated with a system of government that is authoritarian. According Kutut Suwondo (Civil Society in Local Aras; Development of Relations Between the People and the State in rural Java, 2004), where at that very moment the power of the state is too large when compared with the power of the people. Civil society then discussed in various seminars to the interpretation of it emerged, according to the needs and interests that give interpretations.
Suppose the various cases concerning the oppression of the people which is often done by the authorities is a reality that often we see and hear in every news conference. Whether through electronic media and print media. Call it an example of oppression that occurred in Indonesia when the new order in power namely the existence of repression against people’s rights to land taken by pemrintah the grounds of development. Or is the reality of restraint and silencing freedom of the press with the banning of some mass media by the government as well as restrictions on freedom of expression in the express publicly.
Forms of oppression as a nationwide state authorities against the people as mentioned above occurs not only in Indonesia but the country in several countries in the world is assumed to berkepemimpinan authoritarian government such as, North Korea, Malaysia, Miyanmar and so forth. form of the approach used by authoritarian rulers in several countries in implementing the repressive action often argue for the sake of national security then it becomes repressive approach should be to the kedepankan.
This above is a portrait of this form of governance that is not good if the lean on what you believe in the concept of democracy in the form of good governance that became known as Good Governence term.
The term “governance” is already known in the literature of administration and political science nearly 120 years, since Woodrow Wilson, who later became President of the United States to 27, introduces the study area of approximately 125 years ago. But during that governance is only used in political literature in the narrow sense. In the article Prof.. Dr. Sofian Effendi (Build Good Governence: Our Common Task, 2009) explains that the discourse of “governance” has emerged about 15 years, especially after the various international financial institutions define “good governance” as the main requirements for each program for their help. By theorists and practitioners of the Indonesian state administration, the term “good governance” has been translated in different terms, for example, the mandate of governance (Bintoro Tjokroamidjojo), good governance (UNDP), the management of good governance and responsible (LAN), and some are interpreted narrowly as the government is clean (clean government.)
Deeper Prof.Dr. Sofian Effendi explained in the “governance” implies a nation how to distribute power and manage the resources and the various problems faced by society. In other words, the elements contained in the concept of democratic governance, equitable, transparent, rule of law, participation and partnership. Perhaps the definitions are formulated IIAS is the most appropriate to capture the meaning is the process whereby the various elements in society to raise the power and authority, and influence and ratify policies and decisions concerning public life, as well as economic and social development.
Pergesran pattern of Indonesia’s political configuration of the authoritarian era to democracy that in the start after the fall of the regime of President Suharto, then the contents of the reform agenda to strengthen democracy as a concept relevant to be applied and developed in Indonesia. Pergesran political configuration pattern which creates a huge wave of democracy in Indonesia, making Indonesia busy with re-arrange things what is considered consistent with the spirit of democracy, political system changes, the functions of state institutions and other sebaginya. The change in structure is also balanced with the desire of the people to obtain decent as the people’s rights against the state with a variety of practical understanding of democracy as well as contextual and foreign influences that want to “participate” in Indonesia.
Writing with the title “Strengthening of Civil Society in Indonesia; logical consequence realization of good governance” was made on the grounds that Indonesia is a country that is running in Universal peroses democracy, through this paper the author wants to share your thoughts in the filling process of democratization is through thinking the importance of strengthening civil society in Indonesia as a logical consequence of the realization of good governance.

Problem
Departure from the introduction above, can be formulated a problem which will be reviewed in the discussion in this paper. As for the problem is how to efforts to strengthen civil society in Indonesia as a logical consequence of the realization of good governance.

Discussion
The discourse of civil society is a concept derived from political upheaval and the history of western Europe are undergoing a process of transformation from a feudal to a life pattern of the life of capitalist industrial society. If you find the roots of its history from the beginning, the development of civil society discourse can be traced from start Cicerrro to Antonio Gramsci, even according to Dawam Rahardjo, civil society discourse has been raised at the time of Aristotle. Aristotle was followed by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) by the term civilies societies, that is a community that dominates the other communities. Terms put forward by Cicero is more emphasis on the concept of city-state (city-state), namely to describe the kingdom, the city and other corporate form, as an organized entity.
1767, the discourse of civil society was developed by Adam Ferguson by taking socio-cultural context and politics of Scotland. Ferguson emphasized civil society in an ethical vision in public life.
This understanding is used to anticipate the social changes caused by the industrial revolution and the emergence of capitalism as well as striking differences between the public and individuals. With this concept, Ferguson hopes that the public has the spirit to block the re-emergence of despotism, as in civil society of social solidarity that emerged and were inspired by moral sentiment and attitude of mutual love and trust between citizens naturally. 1792, civil society discourse appears to have a different emphasis with the previous, this concept is raised by Thomas Paine (1737-1803) who used the term civil society as groups of people who have a position diametrically with the state. Even regarded by them as anti-thesis of the country. Thus, the state should be limited to a nicety, and he is the embodiment of the delegation of power granted by the society for the creation of public welfare.
The transformation from a feudal society into a modern western society, who was better known by the term civil society. In the tradition of Europe around the middle of XVIII century, the notion of civil society are considered equal to understanding the state (state), ie one group / force that dominates all other community groups. But at the end of the XVIII century, this terminology is experiencing a shift in meaning. State and civil society was understood as two distinct entities, in line with the process of forming social and political structural changes in Europe as the enlightenment and modernization in the face of worldly matters. In defines the term civil society is highly dependent on socio-cultural conditions of a nation
In the Islamic perspective, give meaning to civil society as civil society, while a group of scientists interpret as civil society or civic society, the controversy also emerged among civil society groups that glorify as a way out of an unjust political system. The collapse of the authoritarian Suharto regime, causing the discourse of civil society seemed to lose the base of departure for discussion again, but if civil society is only used as a tool of political analysis, the discourse has become very relevant to talk about.
Diverse interpretations of civil society discourse continues to grow dimisalkan Adi Suryadi Culla (Civil Society; Thought, theory, and its relevance to the ideals of reformsi, 1999) describes civil society if dipadanankan into the Indonesian padananya said it will be found as civil society civil society, or community citizenship, civil society, the community of civilized, or civilized society. in the Indonesian term “society” is defined by “society”, civil society there is also a mean to civilized society (civilized society), his opponent is the ‘wild people’ (savage society). Approaching understanding civilized society, other translations are also often used is the civil society. Compared to other term of this istialah the most popular and much loved in Indonesia. Madani refers to the word ‘madina’ a city in the Arab region, where the Shari’a of Islam under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad in the past have built a high civilization. According Nurcholis Madjid, the word ‘madina’ comes from the Arabic of “Madaniyah” meaning of civilization because it is associated civil society “civilized society.
Istialah civil society is also sometimes translated as vividly as civil society. Whatever it is, Sunyoto Usman in a paper in the seminar (Building Partnerships between Government and Civil Society to Achieve Good Governance, 2001), confirms that must be underlined is the civil society is an important concept, namely the presence and desire to build community tuntutuan able to create the maximum, capable of absorbing democratic values in a concrete, and hope for the creation of a democratic political system and government from time to time. Because, one of the important ideas inherent in the concept of civil society is the desire to improve the quality of the relationship between society and social institutions are in: public sector (government and political parties), the private sector (business) and the voluntary sector (non-governmental organizations, organizations religious and professional groups).
The relation of civil society and good governance is a matter that is symmetrical between the two, because the two concepts above are born from the concept of Democracy, Democracy upholds the values of justice, freedom, individual and group rights, democracy further requires that the state in conducting activities to be open to the public. This is a form of demand in developing Good Governence in a democracy. This means that countries in the implementation of government must be open so that the public / civil society can be easy to access information related to the organization of the government.
The reality of democracy in Indonesia, change the pattern of centralized authority into the pattern of centralized power in order to attain the level of Good Governence area dibidani by law No. 22 of 1999 was later clarified by the law No. 32 of 2004 on regional government, was not able to answer nature Good Governance at local level and national level.
Problems then arise in the decentralization that has similarities to the days of centralized problematic. Local forces to replace the position of the power of the central power, although the local force has hegemony of government at the local level, was not able to guarantee the satisfaction of local communities in meeting their demands toward the achievement of the rights and clean government, transparent or in terms of good governance. The essence of the regional autonomy law by summarizing the idea of regional autonomy expert “M. Ryaas Rashid “in M. Mas’ud Said (Bureaucracy In bureaucratic State, 2007) about the changing nature of the practice of centralized governance to decentralized governance is that local governance is much more independent in choosing their leaders, to advance their interests, develop their institutions, the mobilizing of support from community- their own community.
In the current locale tinggatan still can be found organizing the government that are closed to information governance. Symptoms such as these in the draw by Dzuriyatun Toyibah, et al (Capture the Public Budget: The Long Road Democratization Budgeting, 2008) in management development planning model as mandated Act No.25 of 2004 concerning National Development Planning system enables greater community involvement, Pengakomodasian community participation is assumed for planning which would have been prepared in accordance with the needs of the community. Unfortunately, the planning process is masi not yet integrated with the budgeting process. Participatory planning process that is relatively reduced by the portrait of budget that is not aspirational. Indications of ketidaknyambungan between planning and budgeting processes can be evidenced from the loss of priority proposals result in musrenbang musrenbangdes signing at the next level.
Portrait of the above of course is contrary to democratic principles in realizing the Good Governence. Masarakat civil or civil society have the right to information and participation tdalam of governance in local and national level because the public is the fuel of the movement of nation-building and implementation of development charges also come from public money. Government as owner of the bureaucracy would have to work in the public interest and, it is similar when it comes in the view of “Hegelian Bureaucracy” who believe that the bureaucracy as an institutional bridge between civil society and state. The lack singkronan between state / government administrators and civil society / civil society will lead to the development of walking not on properly, either on the priority issues to the issue of quality needs and good use of the budget. to achieve good governance, the pillars of the buffer required for the achievement of the objectives of good governance namely: government (the state), civil society (civilized society, civil society, civil society), and market or business world. Civil society inevitably have to endure in order to oversee the implementation of good governance it is requested or not, this is important because it involves the area of public life. If the organizers of the government can not reflect the attitude of accommodating and communicative, the ideas presented by Mansour Fakih (Civil Society For Social Transformation; upheaval Ideology of NGOs, 2004) that changes must be captured, can not wait passively.

Conclusion
Civil Society in its position in the state are two different sides in the role and duties, the role of the state as government administrators responsible for protecting and mensejahterahkan people. While civil society acts as a controller of a country’s performance which will provide in-put to the state of the problem faced by the people. In reaching a change towards the direction of improvement, requested or not by the government, then suda become imperative for civil society to move towards meaningful change for the public interest, government, and the state.
Strengthening civil society in the stream of democracy must realize the absolute necessity for the implementation of government that “strong” and “clean”, then the question can be raised is why the civil society in Indonesia is weak and how efforts to strengthen civil society in Indoonesia,? It said weak civil society in Indonesia, marked by widespread objections to the policy of the state / government by the people and the refusal did not get a meaningful response from the state / government. In determining the policy of the government bureaucracy peroses still feel that the citizens of the community as an “object” of the policy, such a narrow view would make the government “allergic” to the proposals of the citizenry in policy determination. And pradigma budget transparency to the public is still considered a state secret by the government bureaucracy. Then how to strengthen civil society in Indonesia.? How that can be kedepankan in strengthening civil society in Indonesia are:
1. Improve understanding of education among civil society with information and educational exchange among civil society through studies study groups, non-governmental organizations, associations and so forth, all of which was to control the administration of a “clean” and well targeted. So the state / government will not arbitrarily in making policy.
2. Changing pradigma state / government bureaucracy as a waitress and guidance as to the subjects and not as a ruler to his people.
3. The desire of state / government to provide the widest space for civil society in control, information access and mensertakan civil society participation in formulating policy

Reference :

Books:
Culla Adi Suryadi, 1999, Civil Society, Thought, theory, and its relevance to the ideals of reformsi.Jakarta; King Grafindo Persada.

Said M. Mas’ ud, 2007, Bureaucracy in the bureaucratic state. Malang: UPT Publishing University of Malang.

Suwondo Kutut, 2003, Civil Society in Local Aras; Development of Relations Between the People and the State in rural Java, Yogyakarta, East: Reader Percik.

Toyibah Dzuriyatun, et al, 2008, Seize the Public Budget; Long Road Budgeting Democratization, London: PP Lakpesdam NU.

Articles / Literature Other:

Prof. articles. Dr. Sofian Effendi, rector of Gadjah Mada University “Building Good Governence: Our Common Tasks.” Download in http://sofian.staff.ugm.ac.id/artikel/membangun-good-governance.pdf on August 25, 2009 at 23:17 Wit

Usman Sunyoto paper at the seminar “Building Partnerships between Government and Civil Society to Achieve Good Governance”, organized by the National Development Planning Agency, Jakarta, October 9, 2001.

2007-07-25T03:03:00.000-07:00