IN less than a month, 37 provinces, 415 districts and 93 cities will hold regional head elections simultaneously on November 27 2024. Currently, the stage of holding regional elections is entering a crucial phase. The campaign period is the most awaited by the public, as a form of political communication carried out by candidates to convey ideas, and becomes a consideration for voters in determining their choices.
According to Rogers and Storey in Theory and Principles of Public Communication Campaign (1987), a campaign is a series of planned communication actions with the aim of creating a certain effect on a large number of audiences, which is carried out continuously over a certain period of time which is aimed at directing the audience to a particular problem and its solution.
Unfortunately, the ongoing campaign stages have not yet been accompanied by a major exchange of ideas and thoughts for regional progress. In fact, the future of the region in the next five and ten years is at stake, especially facing post-2024 election challenges and the quality of regional leaders.
Instead of regional election participants presenting a substantive campaign, in several areas there were allegations of violations of the neutrality of state civil servants, village heads and their apparatus, money politics, installation of campaign props that did not comply with General Election Commission regulations, and a number of other violations. Based on the regional election vulnerability index released by Bawaslu, these various potential violations are predicted to be widespread.
The pattern of violations that occurred in the regional elections was not much different from what occurred in the 2024 simultaneous elections, when there was abuse of power (abuse of power) by using state facilities and budgets in a clear manner becomes normalized and is not considered a violation. There is an absolute concentration of power and is exploited repeatedly to win contestations, which is an indication of the decline of democracy (Tushnet, 2004).
Likewise, there are too many regional head candidates gimmick and carry out political practices of lies (the politics of lying) and deceit (the politics of deception) to the wider community and the people, the majority of whom are backward and uneducated, deliberately manipulating public feelings. There are quite a few candidates who pretend to be populist, even though they are only faking it and are acting out political drama.
Language with jargon, euphemisms, metaphors, and labelling which aims to build false consciousness. The political advertisements displayed on billboards and banners appear to be the most meritorious figures, the best for the people, and without moral defects. Campaign debates that seem staged, seem to appear confident, even though they are nervous, so they are monologues and one way communication. That doesn’t show the actual dialogue. In Our Democracy (1960) written by Mohammad Hatta, such reality shows the dwarfism of the leader’s soul.
MI/Breast
Democracy goes up a class
Democracy and the 2024 simultaneous election campaign should be able to move up a class by prioritizing ethics, morality and civility. The images that occurred in the 2024 election should be used as a very valuable lesson and should not be repeated. This will only be a dark note on our democracy. Democracy is at its nadir. Diversity thinker, Sukidi from Harvard University, in the article On the Edge of Democracy’s Death mentions that tolerance and freedom are not applied fairly and equally.
Intimidation, the politics of fear, criminalization, and the mobilization of state resources are used for the political interests of those in power and undermine democracy, which causes people to no longer believe in democracy. The death of democracy in Myanmar after the military coup in February 2021 and the ouster of Salvador Allende, who was elected through an election process by General Augusto Pinochet in September 1973, is due to democracy’s increasingly weakening resilience.
In the end, when the narrative of distrust in democracy continues to be voiced because it is considered to be a system that fails to maintain the country’s prosperity and stability, it can undermine and reduce public confidence in the benefits and importance of democracy (the merits of democracy).
In the democracy index released by The Economist Intelligence Unit in early 2024, Indonesia experienced a decline from year to year. Indonesia’s score of 6.71 is ranked 54th, which is categorized as not yet a full democracy, still an imperfect democracy (flawed democracy). A sharp decline occurred in civil liberties indicators.
Indonesia has indeed moved away from an authoritarian regime, but it could actually still be authoritarian, but wrapped in democracy. In the name of democracy, the law is manipulated and used as a tool of legitimacy. In elections or local elections, democratic procedures are implemented, but in their implementation, principles are important meaningful participation and justice is actually marginalized so that it seems as if democracy is not being implemented.
In Indonesia, the end of the death of democracy is very clearly reflected in the collapse of the supremacy of law by engineering through decisions of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court which no longer have a sense of justice. Girl-girl politics has torn apart human values without any ethical and moral considerations. The rule of law that has collapsed will be very difficult to restore (Benner, 2017).
Therefore, a civilized campaign in the 2024 regional elections will greatly determine the quality of democracy in the future based on programs that are in line with people’s needs, innovation and creativity by building narratives that are able to persuade the people. However, regional government is an extension of the central government so that the spearhead of implementing various policies is in the regions.
However, there is a focus on regional issues that are urgent needs, especially those related to the interests of young people and women. For example, how to solve problems of economic inequality and employment, education, health, climate change and the environment, infrastructure and transportation, as well as violence against women and children. The most important thing is that the campaign does not get caught up in populist narratives, imagery and gimmicks, but can actually build dialogue.
Deddy Mulyana (2013) in Political Communication, Communication Politics expressing a dialogical campaign means that the campaigning party tries to involve themselves intimately in the social world of the voters, entering their perspectives and inner experiences. Building a dialogue between two or more people by being open to talking and listening, to be convinced of their arguments well. Rational humans, through dialogue, can find better solutions with positive changes (Habermas, 2013).
Improving democracy
The 2024 regional elections are a big gamble and the last bastion. Will regional elections save democracy or will it do the opposite? Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblat (2018) in their book, How Democracies Dierevealed that democracy died not because of a military coup, but because of the agency factor which was manifested in an authoritarian leader, who was elected from the results of elections or local elections and showed an anti-democratic attitude.
The two Harvard University professors stated in detail that this anti-democratic attitude is manifested in the weakening of state institutions through denial and weak commitment to democratic rules of the game, suppressing freedoms of civil society including the media, encouraging and tolerating violence, and denying the legitimacy of political opponents. Slowly, but surely, the death knell of democracy will come true in Indonesia.
Elections that are won at all costs to gain power have destroyed the entire order and morality of the nation. The people as the holder of supreme sovereignty still have the responsibility to fight for the values they still believe to be true. No longer allow the rulers to oppress through the tyrannical accumulation of power.
The role of civil society
All elements of civil society, intellectuals and religious leaders should not fall asleep and not realize that democracy in Indonesia is not doing well. Especially after the inauguration of the president and vice president on October 20 2024 and their ministers, Indonesia will face quite serious challenges because in the future power will almost be held without a mechanism. checks and balances. The 2024 regional elections are the right moment to save democracy from decline and the edge of death.
Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson (2019) in The Narrow Corridor: State, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty revealed that efforts to maintain democracy and freedom are like maintaining a narrow tunnel that arises from the balance between the power of the state and civil society. A state that is too strong and a civil society that is too weak will give birth to autocracy, and even more so totalitarianism (Wijayanto, 2024). Conversely, when society is too strong and the state is weak, mobocracy and anarchy will emerge.
The situation in Indonesia, according to Hadiz and Robison (2013), Winters (2021), is that there are a handful of oligarchic elites who make the country too strong. This is where the role of civil society needs to be strengthened to strengthen democracy. Civil society must be critical and continue to be noisy because power must be balanced with resistance so that power can be controlled. A silent democracy is not a substantive democracy (Susanti, 2024). Civil society resistance is one of the keys to saving democracy and protecting the Republic from the dangers of tyranny.
Enlightened leader of the times
The death of democracy will not happen if Indonesia has a visionary leader, a national leader with big thinking, who is aware of the direction of building the nation’s civilization in the future towards Indonesia’s golden hundred years in 2045. A leader who is able to provide a way out in the most difficult times. Not only the president, but also regional heads elected after the 2024 simultaneous regional elections.
In Theology of HopeKomaruddin Hidayat (2024) wrote that whoever sits as a representative of the people and head of government must be a chosen person, namely a leader with the best intelligence, the most intelligent reasoning, so that he can overcome various problems that arise simply to make the citizens orderly and happy. When there is an unavoidable process of decay and deviation of the nation, a corrective movement will emerge from sound reasoning and moral awareness driven by enlightened leaders of the times.
Leaders who stand at the forefront with big ideas and carry the people’s hopes for the progress of greater Indonesia. The more you come here, the more intelligent people become. Leaders who only rely on gimmicks and images will slowly be abandoned by the people because power is only temporary and just a loan as explained in systems theory. Who are the political actors who fight for the people and civilization, who are the politicians who only pursue and hunt for power and position, who are the leaders who betray the people, will be clearly revealed and remembered in history.
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Rship
For democracy to thrive in Indonesia, there is an urgent need for enlightened leadership that embodies integrity, transparency, and accountability. Leaders should prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or partisan interests. This type of leadership is characterized by the ability to inspire trust and foster meaningful engagement with constituents. It requires a departure from the manipulative tactics and deceptive practices prevalent in the political landscape.
Enlightened leaders recognize the importance of upholding democratic ideals and engaging in authentic dialogue with the population. They should employ communication strategies that elevate public discourse rather than resorting to populist gimmicks or soundbites that oversimplify complex issues. By promoting education, critical thinking, and civic participation among citizens, such leaders can cultivate a more informed electorate that can hold them accountable.
Additionally, leaders must be willing to listen to diverse voices and integrate feedback into their decision-making processes. This approach can help ensure that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of all segments of the population, particularly marginalized and underrepresented groups.
Furthermore, the role of political education is vital in nurturing a robust democratic culture. Educational initiatives can empower citizens to understand their rights, the importance of their vote, and the mechanisms of governance, thereby fostering a sense of agency. By encouraging civic responsibility and participation in governance, democracy can be revitalized from the ground up.
Conclusion
The 2024 regional elections represent a critical juncture for Indonesia’s democracy. The manner in which these elections are conducted and the attitudes exhibited by both candidates and voters will play a significant role in shaping the future of democratic governance in the country. It is imperative that all stakeholders, including government, civil society, and the electorate, collaborate to foster a political environment that prioritizes ethical conduct, civic engagement, and respect for democratic norms.
The fate of Indonesian democracy hinges on the actions and mindset of its leaders and citizens alike. In this context, a commitment to cooperation, mutual respect, and a shared vision for a thriving democratic society is essential. The stakes are high, but with determination and collective effort, Indonesia can navigate the challenges it faces and move toward a more just and equitable democratic future.