DOCSLIB.ORG

Than Megawati in Leading PDI-P

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Than Megawati in Leading PDI-P opinion MARCH 29, 2015 5 China’s fi nancial PARADOXES WHEN JOKOWI IS MUCH MORE TRUSTED John West result in a wave of loan defaults in THE GLOBALIST/WASHINGTON DC China, damaging the regular bank- ing system and potentially creating hina’s international fi nancial a wave for investors and companies than Megawati in leading PDI-P showmanship at the Asian In- that have put money into shadow Cfrastructure Investment Bank banking vehicles,” the McKinsey should not distract attention from report argues. Megawati has lost credibility as party boss 2014 presidential race, even though Susilo its deep fi nancial fragilities at home. “Don’t worry, China won’t crash,” VIEW POINT and that Jokowi is perceived as one of its Bambang Yudhoyono had already defeated The UK recently defi ed its “spe- was the message from Premier Li most promising leaders. her twice in the 2004 and 2009 presidential cial relationship” with the United Keqiang at the end of the recent Na- There are a couple key reasons for the elections. States by applying to join the China- tional People’s Congress. But even public’s growing impatience with Megawati The PDI-P now needs Jokowi more than led Asian Infrastructure Investment Premier Li acknowledged that the and her family. For starters, many PDI-P sup- the President needs Megawati. The former Bank (AIIB). Chinese economy faces a long pe- porters, even Megawati’s die-hard followers, Jakarta governor and Surakarta mayor has, Other leading European coun- riod of adjustment. felt angered and disappointed by her emo- thus far, been much luckier than his prede- tries France, Germany, Italy and At this stage, the Chinese govern- tional defense of National Police chief can- cessor. During Yudhoyono’s 10-year term, he Switzerland quickly followed suit. ment has the fi nancial wherewithal didate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan. She was was often betrayed and cheated by his own And there is now talk that Australia, to deal with its debt challenges and reportedly outraged with Corruption Eradi- coalition members in the Golkar Party and Korea and even Japan might be the stave off a full-blown fi nancial crisis. cation Commission (KPK) leaders when the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). They next AIIB suitors. Premier Li also indicated a willing- they named her former adjutant as a graft gained lucrative Cabinet positions but often China’s leadership in the creation ness to continue propping up the suspect in January. The media reported that attacked Yudhoyono’s government through of the AIIB and also the New Devel- economy if necessary. she tried to force President Jokowi to install the legislature. opment Bank (formerly the BRICs But as the case of Japan two de- Budi as the new police chief, despite public Having accomplished next to nothing, the Development Bank) is a direct chal- cades earlier highlights, public fi - protests. Speculations about her motives read opposing Red-and-White Coalition is now lenge to the US-dominated post-war nance can get quickly out of shape if like screenplays for soap operas. collapsing. Two of the major opposition par- international fi nancial system cen- the government does not promptly The Indonesian public is upset that the ties, Golkar, the second largest party after the tered on the IMF and World Bank. address fi nancial problems. Kornelius Purba political elites systematically destroyed the PDI-P, and the United Development Party It is thus seen by many as sym- To prevent a recurrence, the gov- JAKARTA KPK. And in relation to that it is very diffi cult (PPP), are deeply divided, as is the National bolic of the fi nancial power of China ernment must implement structural for Megawati and her party to cover up their Mandate Party (PAN), though on a smaller — and the waning infl uence of the reforms to empower provincial gov- displeasure with Indonesia’s most trusted scale. It is beginning to seem as though the United States. ernments to raise suffi cient tax rev- state institution. The party is ranked number only solid opposition parties remaining are But China’s international fi nan- enues to fi nance their expenditures er inner-circle supporters quickly one when it comes to the number of politi- Gerindra and PKS. The leader of the opposi- cial showmanship should not dis- and to enable the fi nancial system questioned the motive of pollster cians jailed for graft. tion, the loser of the July presidential elec- tract our attention from China’s to allocate fi nance more effi ciently. Lembaga Survei Poltracking Indo- Until last week, the party was still eager to tion, Prabowo Subianto, evidently realizes deep fi nancial fragilities at home. Too much of China’s fi nancial re- nesia after it announced its fi ndings foil Jokowi’s attempt to name National Police that being too harsh with Jokowi will nega- China’s total debt has risen from sources are currently being wasted. Hlast Sunday that public trust in Indonesian deputy chief Comr. Badrodin Haiti the new tively affect his camp. US$7 trillion in 2007 to $28 trillion Some observers have argued that Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair- police chief after he withdrew Budi’s nomi- Megawati will remain unchallenged in by mid-2014, according to a recent China could use its immense for- woman Megawati Soekarnoputri had drasti- nation. The childish attitude of the politicians the upcoming PDI-P congress. But Puan will report by the McKinsey Global In- eign exchange reserves (about $4 cally declined. Her daughter, Puan Maharani, is irritating. From time to time they indicate likely face bitter rejection as the next party stitute. It accounts for more than trillion in value) to solve its sudden and son, Prananda Prabowo, seemed even that they will abandon Jokowi, who would be chief, given her inability to perform both one-third of the growth in debt glob- debt problem. But it’s not as simple worse in the eyes of the public. left standing alone without control over any as party executive and as a minister, which ally. Representing 282 percent of as that. Hanta Yuda, the executive of the poll- of the country’s political parties. would leave her accomplishments amount- GDP, China’s debt is now even larger Such an approach would require ing company, said the PDI-P should speed Indonesians also felt frustrated because the ing to nothing more than being Megawati’s than that of the United States (269 selling foreign currency-denominat- up leadership regeneration, since the public PDI-P often acted in opposition to Jokowi’s daughter. percent) or Germany (258 percent). ed investments and converting the wanted to see new leaders. plans, despite the fact that the PDI-P leads If Megawati wants the party to maintain China’s rapid debt buildup is proceeds into renminbi. This would The PDI-P will hold its congress next the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition. PDI-P relevance with the times and its current sup- about double that of the United push up the renminbi exchange rate, month in Bali. Only a miracle could change politicians in the House of Representatives porters, she has little choice but to accommo- States before the global fi nancial harming exports at a time of eco- the fact that Megawati, the country’s fi fth seem eager to disrupt the government’s activ- date Jokowi in the party. It will not be easy crisis or that of Korea before the nomic weakness. president, will be unanimously reelected for ities. The opposing Red-and-White Coalition for her to criticize the government because Asian fi nancial crisis. If the current China must now navigate a major another fi ve-year term. often shows greater understanding — and her motives would be all too evident. Hope- pace of debt buildup continues, turning point in its development tra- Citing the survey’s results, Hanta said Pres- perhaps even greater support — for govern- fully she will be smart enough to offer Jokowi China’s debt would reach 400 per- jectory. A period of slower growth is ident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was more desir- mental policies than the PDI-P. a position on the party’s new executive board. cent of GDP by 2018. being heralded as the new normal. able than Megawati as future PDI-P party Megawati apparently cannot accept that It will boost the party’s credibility while still This debt surge is the result of But what is most important is un- leader, a party based on the ideology of her she does not control Jokowi and such stub- allowing her to rein queen of the PDI-P. the government’s stimulus program locking productivity as a fresh driver father, fi rst president bornness has become a great burden on his Megawati can no longer act as the party’s in response to the 2008 “Lehman of growth and industrial upgrading Sukarno. administration. Her own daughter, Puan, has virtual dictator. She may be credited for the shock”. This stimulus took the form now that the demographic dividend The survey merely made no visible contribution, despite being party’s massive amount of support but she has of an explosion in directed bank of cheap labor has come to an end. confi rmed public awarded the post of Coordinating Human done little to transform the party into a mod- lending, mainly to state-owned en- This will require urgent imple- sentiment that Development and Culture Minister. ern democratic institution. For the sake of her terprises and local governments. mentation of the commitment of the It was Megawati herself who nominated own interests, and the interests of her family, More recently, this was followed by a 2013 Third Plenum to allow market Jokowi as the party’s presidential candidate Megawati should share her power in the PDI- boom in shadow banking fi nance.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Media Klarifikasi Pemberitaan Negatif Media Massa Arus Utama
    YouTube dan Panggung Komunikasi Politik: Media Klarifikasi Pemberitaan Negatif Media Massa Arus Utama (YouTube and the Stage of Political Communication: Media Clarification Mainstream Mass Media Negative News) Tri Alida Apriliana alinamahamel@gmail.com Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya Abstract The presence of the internet and new media have provided opportunities for the public to participate in political conversations or debates through new media, which is user generated content. New media of the user generated content type is the media with content created by the users of the new media themselves. Youtube is a new type of media, although the interactions offered are not as busy as other social media, but the use of Youtube is quite effective to boost the popularity of political communicators. Through Youtube, important information can be disseminated in more personal or dialogical ways in responding to various public curiosity. During the last few years in Indonesia, Youtube has also been widely used by political communicators to upload videos containing political statements or attitudes on actual issue. It is often that Youtube is also used as a medium for political communicators to clarify when they feel that they have been described negatively by the mainstream mass media. Key Words: Democracy, Political Communication, Internet, New Media, Youtube Abstrak Kehadiran internet dan media baru telah memberikan kesempatan bagi publik untuk turut berpartisipasi dalam perbicangan-perbincangan atau debat-debat politik melalui media baru berjenis user generated content. Media baru berjenis user generated content merupakan media dengan konten yang dibuat oleh pengguna media baru itu sendiri. YouTube merupakan salah satu jenis media baru, meskipun interaksi yang ditawarkan tidak seramai media sosial lainnya, tapi penggunaan YouTube cukup efektif menjadi salah satu media yang dapat mendongkrak popularitas citra diri komunikator politik.
    [Show full text]
  • The Indonesian Presidential Election: Now a Real Horse Race?
    Asia Pacific Bulletin EastWestCenter.org/APB Number 266 | June 5, 2014 The Indonesian Presidential Election: Now a Real Horse Race? BY ALPHONSE F. LA PORTA The startling about-face of Indonesia’s second largest political party, Golkar, which is also the legacy political movement of deposed President Suharto, to bolt from a coalition with the front-runner Joko Widodo, or “Jokowi,” to team up with the controversial retired general Prabowo Subianto, raises the possibility that the forthcoming July 9 presidential election will be more than a public crowning of the populist Jokowi. Alphonse F. La Porta, former Golkar, Indonesia’s second largest vote-getter in the April 9 parliamentary election, made President of the US-Indonesia its decision on May 19 based on the calculus by party leaders that Golkar’s role in Society, explains that “With government would better be served by joining with a strong figure like Prabowo rather more forthcoming support from than Widodo, who is a neophyte to leadership on the national level. Thus a large coalition of parties fronted by the authoritarian-minded Prabowo will now be pitted against the the top level of the PDI-P, it is smaller coalition of the nationalist Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which had just possible that Jokowi could selected former vice president Jusuf Kalla, nominally of Golkar, as Jokowi’s running mate. achieve the 44 percent plurality If this turn of events sounds complicated, it is—even for Indonesian politics. But first a look some forecast in the presidential at some of the basics: election, but against Prabowo’s rising 28 percent, the election is Indonesia’s fourth general election since Suharto’s downfall in 1998 has marked another increasingly becoming a real— milestone in Indonesia’s democratization journey.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore | 17 Apr 2014
    ISSN 2335-6677 #24 2014 RESEARCHERS AT SINGAPORE’S INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES SHARE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 17 Apr 2014 Unpacking the Results of the 2014 Indonesian Legislative Election By Alexander R. Arifianto* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The recently concluded 2014 legislative elections in Indonesia produced several unexpected results, as the heavily favored PDIP party failed to reach its electoral targets, despite the popularity of its presidential candi- date, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi). • PDIP’s failure to win more popular votes during these elections can be attributed to the lack of campaign advertisements promoting Jokowi as its presidential candidate, local-level campaign dynamics, possible vote- buying, and the internal rivalry between supporters of Jokowi and support- ers of party-chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri. • The success of the Islamic parties in increasing their vote share dur- ing these elections is not the result of their increased popularity among Indonesian voters. Instead, it is the result of their strategy to recoup the votes they had lost during the 2009 elections. * Alexander R. Arifianto is ISEAS Visiting Fellow; e-mail: alexander_arifianto@iseas.edu.sg INTRODUCTION The recently concluded legislative election in Indonesia produced several unexpect- ed results. The first one was the underperforming results of the opposition party the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, PDIP), which failed to capitalise on the popularity of its presidential candidate Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi). The party is estimated to have won only 19 percent of the popular vote, far below the expected 25 to 30 percent that had been predicted by a number of Indonesian public opinion surveys.
    [Show full text]
  • Kepemimpinan Karismatik: Studi Tentang Kepemimpinan Politik Megawati Soekarnoputri Dalam Pdip Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan
    KEPEMIMPINAN KARISMATIK: STUDI TENTANG KEPEMIMPINAN POLITIK MEGAWATI SOEKARNOPUTRI DALAM PDIP PARTAI DEMOKRASI INDONESIA PERJUANGAN Skripsi Diajukan kepada Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik untuk Memenuhi Persyaratan Memperoleh Gelar Sarjana Sosial (S.Sos) Oleh Hadi Mustafa NIM: 1060320 1174 PROGRAM STUDI ILMU POLITIK FAKULTAS ILMU SOSIAL DAN ILMU POLITIK UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 1431/2011 LEMBAR PERNYATAAN Dengan ini saya menyatakan bahwa: 1. Skripsi ini merupakan hasil karya asli saya yang diajukan untuk memenuhi salah satu persyaratan memperoleh gelar strata 1 di UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. 2. Semua sumber yang saya gunakan dalam penulisan ini telah saya cantumkan sesuai dengan ketentuan yang berlaku di UIN syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. 3. Jika di kemudian hari terbukti bahwa karya ini bukan hasil karya asli saya atau merupakan hasil jiblakan dari karya orang lain, maka saya bersedia menerima sanksi yang berlaku di UIN syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Ciputat, 13 Juni 2011 Hadi Mustafa KEPEMIMPINAN KARISMATIK: STUDI TENTANG KEPEMIMPINAN POLITIK MEGAWATI SOEKARNOPUTRI DALAM PDIP PARTAI DEMOKRASI INDONESIA PERJUANGAN Skripsi Diajukan untuk Memenuhi Persyaratan Memperoleh Gelar Sarjana Sosial (S.Sos) Oleh: Hadi Mustafa NIM: 10603201174 Di bawah bimbingan A. Bakir Ihsan, M.Si NIP: 19720412 200312 1 002 PROGRAM STUDI ILMU POLITIK FAKULTAS ILMU SOSIAL DAN ILMU POLITIK UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 1431/2011 “Karma Nevad Ni Adikaraste Ma Phalesu Kada Canna,” “Kerjakan kewajibanmu dengan tidak menghitung-hitungkan akibatnya!” (Presiden Soekarno) PENGESAHAN PANITIA UJIAN Skripsi berjudul KEPEMIMPINAN KARISMATIK: STUDI TENTANG KEPEMIMPINAN POLITIK MEGAWATI SOEKARNOPUTRI DALAM PARTAI DEMOKRASI INDONESIA PERJUANGAN telah diujikan dalam sidang munaqasyah Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta pada 17 Juni 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Institutions in Indonesia Democracy, Decentralisation, Diversity
    BRIEFING Continental democracies Political institutions in Indonesia Democracy, decentralisation, diversity SUMMARY Until his downfall in 1998, General Suharto ruled Indonesia with an iron fist. Since then, a series of reforms have transformed his authoritarian 'New Order' into the world's third largest democracy (and largest Muslim democracy). Indonesia has a presidential system in which a directly elected president serves as both head of state and of government. A maximum two-term limit on the presidency helps to ensure a peaceful alternation of power. Also directly elected, the House of Representatives (the lower house of the bicameral People's Consultative Assembly) has asserted itself as a strong and independent institution. There are nine parliamentary parties, none of which holds a majority, obliging the government to seek support from a broad coalition. Despite the success of Indonesia's political reforms, its commitment to democratic values cannot be taken for granted. Although Indonesia has traditionally been a tolerant, multicultural society, a rising tide of Islamic populism threatens to disrupt the delicate balance between the country's Muslim majority and minorities such as Christians and Buddhists. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has had some success in tackling endemic graft in the country's courts, local governments and Parliament; however, the latter recently voted to weaken the KPK's powers. While trust in democratic institutions declines, the military – whose commitment to democratic values has often been
    [Show full text]
  • Pekan Kerja Nyata Revolusi Mental: Membangun Karakter Bangsa Yang Kuat Dan Ber-Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Untuk Mencapai Tujuan NKRI Berdasarkan Pancasila Dan UUD 1945
    Pekan Kerja Nyata Revolusi Mental: Membangun Karakter Bangsa yang Kuat dan Ber-Bhinneka Tunggal Ika untuk Mencapai Tujuan NKRI Berdasarkan Pancasila dan UUD 1945 Image not found or type unknown Jakarta (24/08) - Sebagai salah satu program prioritas Pemerintahan Joko Widodo - Jusuf Kalla, Gerakan Nasional Revolusi Mental (GNRM) gencar disuarakan. GNRM diperlukan untuk memperbaiki dan membangun karakter bangsa Indonesia yang mengacu pada nilai-nilai Integritas, Etos Kerja, dan Gotong Royong demi membangun budaya bangsa yang bermartabat, modern, maju, makmur, dan sejahtera berdasarkan Pancasila. Dasar pelaksanaan GNRM mengacu pada Perpres No.2/2015 tentang Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (RPJMN) 2015-2019 dan diperkuat dengan Inpres No.12/2016 tentang GNRM. GNRM sejatinya berorientasi pada dampak (outcome) dan bukan pada hasil (output). Maka, untuk meningkatkan pemahaman dan kesadaran seluruh elemen bangsa akan arti penting GNRM, mengevaluasi 2,5tahun pelaksanaan GNRM di Indonesia, mempercepat pelaksanaan GNRM Indonesia dalam skala nasional maupun daerah, serta sebagai sarana komunikasi, informasi dan edukasi GNRM Indonesia kepada seluruh lapisan masyarakat, Kemenko PMK, Kemenko Polhukam, Kemenko Perekenomian, Kemenko Maritim, Kemdagri, Kemenpan/RB, Pemprov Jawa Tengah, dan Pemkot Surakarta bekerja samamenyelenggarakan kegiatan ‘Pekan Kerja Nyata Revolusi Mental (PKN RM) 2017’. Kegiatan yang akan berlangsung sejak 25-27 Agustus 2017 ini akan dibuka langsung oleh Menteri Koordinator Bidang Pembangunan Manusia dan Kebudayaan (Menko PMK) Puan Maharani, di Stadion Manahan, Surakarta dan akan dihadiri oleh 15.000peserta dari perwakilan 34 Propinsi; 514 Kab/Kota; Kementerian/Lembaga; Dunia Usaha; LSM/Komunitas dan masyarakat umum.Adapun acara penutupan akan digelar di Benteng Vastenburg, Surakarta. Tema yang diusung penyelenggaraan PKN RM ini adalah “Membangun Karakter Bangsa yang Kuat dan ber-Bhinneka Tunggal Ika untuk Mencapai Tujuan NKRI Berdasarkan Pancasila dan UUD 1945.” Maksud tema iniadalah agar GNRM makin memasyarakat.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Parties' Manoeuvring After the Jokowi-Prabowo Rapprochement
    ISSUE: 2021 No. 73 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 2 June 2021 Political Parties’ Manoeuvring after the Jokowi-Prabowo Rapprochement Max Lane* In this picture, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) (R) shakes hands with Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) during the inauguration ceremony at the State palace in Jakarta on October 23, 2019. The rapprochement of Jokowi and Prabowo has resulted in the unusual absence of a polarising rivalry among the main political parties. Photo: Adek Berry, AFP. * Max Lane is Visiting Senior Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Lecturer in Southeast Asian Politics and History at Victoria University, and Honorary Associate in Indonesian Studies at the University of Sydney. 1 ISSUE: 2021 No. 73 ISSN 2335-6677 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The rapprochement of Jokowi and Prabowo has resulted in the unusual absence of a polarising rivalry among the main political parties. There are also no fundamental differences among parties over major policy questions. • The fractured nature of the Indonesian socio-political elite is instead reflected in the proliferation of small parties. This results in the necessity of multi-party coalitions, thus giving Indonesia’s largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), a tactical advantage. • The PDIP has floated the possibility of changing the laws to allow President Joko Widodo to stand again in 2024. Perhaps to sustain its leverage in a post-Widodo government, the PDIP is also advocating the revival of the formal Broad Outlines of State Strategy, which featured during the Soeharto era as overarching policy guidelines for each term of government.
    [Show full text]
  • 1141/III/III/2021 Ÿ Maret 2021
    Buletin Nomor 1141/III/III/2021 Maret 2021 Perempuan Penentu Masa Depan Bangsa BKSAP DPR Komisi III Terima 17 5 Ajak Masyarakat Kunjungan Turut Andil dalam Kehormatan Diplomasi Parlemen BULETIN Dubes Uni Eropa BULETIN Parlementaria Perempuan Penentu Masa Depan Bangsa kunjungan kerja ke Lampung, beberapa waktu yang lalu. Perempuan pertama yang DEWAN PERWAKILAN RAKYAT REPUBLIK INDONESIA menjabat Ketua DPR RI ini bercerita, di lokasi tersebut dia bertemu dengan seorang anak yang sedang duduk sendiri, menunggu temannya untuk salat Jumat bersama. Puan kemudian mengajak anak bernama Hari tersebut untuk memberi makan ikan bersama di tempat itu. “Saat saya mau jalan ke kolam ikan, ada anak kecil duduk sendiri, saya dekati, saya tanya, sambil kasih makan ikan yang banyak banget. “Itu cerita di balik foto, saya ketemu sekitar 30 menit sebelum salat Jumat. Enggak diskenarioin, alami. Bahagia itu sederhana, buat saya juga suatu kebahagiaan,” sambung legislator dapil Jawa Tengah V itu. Ketua DPR RI Dr. (H.C.) Puan Maharani saat membuka pameran foto yang digelar oleh Kaukus Perempuan Parlemen Puan juga menjelaskan foto Republik Indonesia di selasar Gedung Nusantara II, Senayan, Jakarta. Foto: Jaka/Man yang dipamerkan dalam acara ini merepresentasikan bahwa ertepatan dengan menyerahkan tiga foto untuk perempuan adalah sosok yang Hari Perempuan dipamerkan dalam acara tersebut. mampu mengambil keputusan Internasional, Ketua “Kegiatan ini dilakukan secara penting. “Pameran foto-foto ini DPR RI Dr. (H.C.) Puan gotong-royong. Selamat Hari menunjukkan bahwa perempuan- BMaharani membuka pameran foto Perempuan Internasional, kita perempuan ini mampu, kita bisa di selasar Gedung Nusantara II, perempuan hebat, perempuan bersama bapak-bapak mengambil Senayan, Jakarta, Senin (8/3).
    [Show full text]
  • India's Watershed Vote
    October 2014, Volume 25, Number 4 $13.00 India’s Watershed Vote Eswaran Sridharan Ashutosh Varshney Rajiv Kumar Sumit Ganguly External Influence and Democratization Jakob Tolstrup Ghia Nodia Steven Levitsky & Lucan Way Indonesia’s 2014 Elections Edward Aspinall Marcus Mietzner Euroskepticism Arrives Liubomir Topaloff Jo~ao Carlos Espada Richard Joseph on the Nigerian Paradox Javier Corrales & Michael Penfold on Term Limits in Latin America Marc F. Plattner on The Confidence Trap From Politics to Protest Ivan Krastev Indonesia’s 2014 Elections HOW JOKOWI WON AND DEMOCRACY SURVIVED Marcus Mietzner Marcus Mietzner is associate professor in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. His most recent book is Money, Power, and Ideology: Political Parties in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia (2013). In the discussion about democracy’s global recession, analysts tend to fo- cus on the most dramatic cases of democratic reversal, such as the military coups in Egypt and Thailand. In their shadow, however, Indonesia (the world’s third-largest democracy) has faced a less discussed, but equally serious, threat to its democratic polity. Ironically, this threat came in the form of the country’s third direct presidential election since the fall of longtime autocrat Suharto in 1998. Held on 9 July 2014, this contest fea- tured a formidable populist challenge from Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s former son-in-law. Promising tougher leadership and a return to the in- direct electoral mechanisms with which Suharto ruled Indonesia for 32 years, Prabowo came within a hair’s breadth of winning the presidency. Had he been successful, the consequences would have been momentous: Not only would Indonesia have been put on the path of authoritarian re- vival, but the potential “loss” of a much-praised majority-Muslim democ- racy would have further deepened the global democratic recession.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis Is Presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
    The Internet, Social Media, and Political Outsiders in Post Suharto Indonesia A Case Study of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama Ezmieralda Melissa (21411454) B.Comm.(Bus) (Bond University, Australia) M.A. (The University of Melbourne, Australia) This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The University of Western Australia School of Social Sciences Media and Communication 2019 THESIS DECLARATION I, Ezmieralda Melissa, certify that: This thesis has been substantially accomplished during enrolment in the degree. This thesis does not contain material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in my name, in any university or other tertiary institution. No part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission in my name, for any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution without the prior approval of The University of Western Australia and where applicable, any partner institution responsible for the joint-award of this degree. This thesis does not contain any material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. The work(s) are not in any way a violation or infringement of any copyright, trademark, patent, or other rights whatsoever of any person. The research involving human data reported in this thesis was assessed and approved by The University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee. Approval #: RA/4/1/7931. Third party editorial assistance was provided in preparation of the thesis by Mrs. Gail Harper. ii The work described in this thesis was funded by The Directorate General of Resources of Science, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore | 18 Nov 2013
    ISSN 2335-6677 #60 2013 RESEARCHERS AT SINGAPORE’S INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES SHARE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 18 Nov 2013 Indonesian Presidential Election Forcing Rejuvenation of Parties By Ulla Fionna EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • With Indonesian elections just six months away, speculation is mounting on who will become the next directly-elected president. Direct local elections and the current presidential electoral system have political parties engaging in strategic selection of their presidential candidates. • Partai Demokrat’s (PD) heavy reliance on the pulling power of President Yudhoyono has limited its capacity to develop internal cadres. The party has now held a national convention to screen a list of candidates. The strongest of these is the current president’s brother-in-law, demonstrat- ing that the party is under the strong grip of traditional party authority and dynastic politics. • Although Megawati Sukarnoputri also exerts strong control over Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDIP), the party currently houses a number of popular local leaders, suggesting that a process of regeneration is in place and that the party has managed to nurture local candidates for national leadership. While the party has been delaying the announcement of an official candidate for the presidential race, there are strong signs that Jakarta governor Joko Widodo is the favourite for the position. * Ulla Fionna is visiting research fellow at ISEAS; email: ufionna@iseas.edu.sg INTRODUCTION With Indonesian elections about six months away, speculation is mounting about who will be running to become the next directly-elected president. Which sosok (figure) will be chosen to represent the respective parties will be a crucial matter and will strongly influence how the presidential campaign is managed.
    [Show full text]
  • Doing Business in Indonesia: 2015 Country Commercial Guide for U.S
    Doing Business in Indonesia: 2015 Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. • Chapter 1: Doing Business In Indonesia • Chapter 2: Political and Economic Environment • Chapter 3: Selling U.S. Products and Services • Chapter 4: Leading Sectors for U.S. Export and Investment • Chapter 5: Trade Regulations, Customs and Standards • Chapter 6: Investment Climate • Chapter 7: Trade and Project Financing • Chapter 8: Business Travel • Chapter 9: Contacts, Market Research and Trade Events • Chapter 10: Guide to Our Services 8/11/15 Return to table of contents Chapter 1: Doing Business In Indonesia • Market Overview • Market Challenges • Market Opportunities • Market Entry Strategy Market Overview Return to top Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy with a GDP of $888 billion (based on ppp), ranking 10th in the world and averaging over 5% growth over the last decade. In the last 18 months, growth has slowed to below 5% and is projected by the World Bank to be 4.7% for 2015. President Joko Widodo (known as "Jokowi") took office in October 2014 and has pledged to improve infrastructure and reduce barriers to doing business in Indonesia as a means to increase the country’s GDP growth rate to 7% by 2017. Over the past decade Indonesia has enjoyed steady economic growth, though less than needed to pull the country into upper middle-income status, and the rate of growth is slowing. Sound macroeconomic policies, combined with growing domestic demand and high commodity prices, propelled economic expansion in recent years, but protectionist policies, corruption at all levels of government, poor infrastructure, weak rule of law, and labor rigidity have taken their toll.
    [Show full text]