STRENGTHENING THE PILLARS AND ALTERNATIVE SPACES FOR CIVIL SOCIETY AND MEDIA IN TRANSFORMING DEMOCRACY
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The Context of Idea
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Democracy in Indonesia goes so dynamically. The outcomes of formal and instrumental changes, at least in the scope of liberalization of politics and freedom of mass media, take place very convincing. Since the opening of participation space entitled reformation, the stream of participation is very strong, increasing the roles and influences of civil society parts of the process of decision making (Yappika, 2013). Positive stories at the national and local levels in some cases are worth appreciating (IRE, 2012). On the elementary basis as indicated by enactment of regulations, the scheme of development program and a series of agendas of renewing the scheme of strategic decision making in the sectors of economy and politics constitute the good marks of reformation products.
However, in the process, the qualities of the progress and results have not been optimally achieved. In fact, it can be said to be stagnant if cannot be considered getting lesser. Reaction and critical responses keep emerging. For example, there are legal actions made against procedural democracy that evidently is co-opted by practice of corruption within, besides the oligarchy in the institutions of political representation (Demos, 2009). Tension due to politics of identity, money politics, corruption (ICW, 2012) and government’s finance management that is poor and not transparent (Fitra, 2013) as well as many legal problems shadowing the progress of democracy become serious alarm for immediate restoration of the condition. Certainly, there are still many other facts worth revealing here.
The system that is considered democratic is marked by the increase of people participation in the process of decision making in many issues and at different levels. In this case, we certainly can measure how far the political system of government in Indonesia has adapted the values mentioned above. Are there attempt having been done to strengthen people’s pillars in order that the process of transition can go better to the ideal order of democratic system?
