Entering the reform era brought new hopes for a better Indonesia—a nation free from corruption, discrimination, and widespread social and political conflicts rooted in society. These hopes were partly answered through the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, aimed at creating a progressive Indonesia. With the constitutional amendments, the structure of the state has become more democratic, upholding human rights.
More than a decade has passed since the reform era began, but the practices of governance and the political behavior of elites and society reveal a reality contrary to the initial hopes or agenda of reform. In 2012, Indonesia was categorized as a corrupt country (see TII survey results). Horizontal conflicts have spread from cities to remote villages, regional autonomy has given rise to local elites who govern without morality, and poverty and unemployment have grown increasingly widespread. Therefore, in this era of reform, there are significant issues that need serious attention. In my view, the primary problem of the reform era is the absence of democratic values in daily life.
So far, democracy has merely been a superficial, normative concept for political elites. True democratic values have yet to take root in the lives of elites and society. As members of the academic community, students must take the lead in developing democracy within campus life by actively participating in academic forums such as discussions, seminars, lectures inside and outside the classroom, and research, all based on communicative actions, scientific arguments, and rational reasoning. Communicative actions and scientific, rational arguments are the key requirements for realizing democratic values, which Jurgen Habermas describes as deliberative democracy—a form of politics that fosters progress.
