Flawed Democracy
December 7th, 2006, in News, by PatungIndonesia ranks 65th in the 2006 Democracy Index, a flawed democracy.
Put out annually by the Economist magazine this year’s “Economist Intelligence Unit democracy index” ranks 167 countries, dividing them into four categories:
- Full democracies
- Flawed democracies
- Hybrid regimes
- Authoritarian regimes
Indonesia is grouped in the “flawed democracies” list and ranks 65th overall, equal with East Timor, with a score of 6.41 out of ten. The score broken down into categories:
- Electoral process and pluralism - 6.92
- Functioning of government - 7.14
- Political participation - 5.00
- Political culture - 6.25
- Civil liberties - 6.76
Of the nation’s contemporaries and neighbours the Philippines is ranked at 63rd, scoring 6.48, Malaysia is at 81st with a score of 5.98, scoring poorly on the “political participation” level, with 4.44.
Moving down into the “hybrid regimes” list Singapore ranks at 84th and scores 5.89, with a woeful 2.78 for “political participation”. Thailand is at 90th/5.67.
The top ten were:
- 1. Sweden - 9.88
- 2. Iceland - 9.71
- 3. Netherlands - 9.66
- 4. Norway - 9.55
- 5. Denmark - 9.52
- 6. Finland - 9.25
- 7. Luxembourg - 9.10
- 8. Australia - 9.09
- 9. Canada - 9.07
- 10. Switzerland - 9.02
The list is available in PDF format at www.economist.com but it’s easier to view the Google html version.
Tags: Politics
46 Comments on “Flawed Democracy”
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Retarders Says:
December 7th, 2006 at 2:06 pmIn Indonesia we were told that Democracy = Main Hakim Sendiri, Pak!
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Enda Says:
December 7th, 2006 at 2:28 pmit will be interesting to tied in this data with other economic index such as the Big Mac index and Economic Freedom Index and the Human Development UNDP index, Happiness Index and tries to compare how Indonesia is doing among the country in the region
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DianDoank Says:
December 7th, 2006 at 4:23 pmAs javanese, I would say…not bad at all
thanks God not number 100 as usual But to be in the same level as East Timor hemm…need some check and recheck in our democracy system.However agree with Enda will be great to have it compare with other index. Perhaps the happiness index will be good one
and there’s also index of Freedom of Media (dunno if there’s any). As the democracy needs some encouragement and knowledge supply to form an opinion, then the role of mass media is significant in this regards. Quite surprised to see Malaysia in number 80’s.
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Tomaculum Says:
December 7th, 2006 at 8:57 pmIndonesia has a very, very young democracy. So, why not number 64 or 84?
It would surely be suspicious, if the democracy in Indonesia is now already working compeletly. Let’s hope, that it will be better (I don’t mean in the ranking, but in the practice).
Btw: functioning of a government as a standardisation for a democracy? As example: in Netherlands is this better than in Germany? Many questions, many nebulous criteria.
Hong Kong? Isn’t it a part of China with a so called autonomy?
Further: how cn we score a political culture?
Again one of the doubtful ranking indexes. -
December 8th, 2006 at 6:33 amI guess with these kind of index, some assumption and decision needs to be made. So yes it does doubtful for some countries due of the assumption behind it. Well number 64 and regarded as flaw democracy certainly mean that Indonesia’s level of “democracy” is needs to improve within the boundaries of the assumptions that are made for this index.
In regards to functioning government as an element of democracy hem I think without a functioning government in a fact you don’t have democracy. For instance Italy in the past, average timespan of government was less than a year, it resulted in a situation where the government couldn’t execute policy. Therefore the democratic elected government couldn’t perform its task. So it didn’t represent the will of people. Therefore democracy is not a democracy when the government doesn’t work.
For political culture…actually I have the same question..how do they measure it
too bad they don’t put their assumption or their measure on political culture.If you want to see other publications on civil liberty, go to http://www.freedomhouse.org/
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Dimp Says:
December 8th, 2006 at 6:43 amhang on, can we be sure that this ranking is not based entirely on assumptions? we still rank better than Malaysia, Singapore and thailand. it doesn’t meant Indonesia is better though, so what’s the point of this ranking then?
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Karlira Kanakahuko Says:
December 8th, 2006 at 8:00 amI don’t satisfy about the democracy in Indonesia. It is a democracy implementing Sharia law in Indonesia? This is a liar! If Indonesia is in full democracy, Indonesia have no Islamic law and no RUU-APP entire Indonesia, at all.
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Ronald Says:
December 8th, 2006 at 9:52 amit’s about the people of Indonesia. We will never get to top ten if some Indonesians (they have power) still have narrow minded.
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December 8th, 2006 at 12:00 pmhang on isn’t it up to the people if they want sharia law, if it is truly a democratic country then people who want sharia law to be implemented can have their opinion, people who are against it is also free to have their opinion. same as RUU APP, although any law that is applied in Indonesia sums up to nothing to those with power and money anyway.
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Deacon Says:
December 9th, 2006 at 12:13 pmOne of the problems with Indonesia’s electoral system is that for a political party to be legal it must have its head office in Jakarta. This has contribuited to the marginalisation of groups of people in poorer areas e.g. West Papua.
Another problem is the unitary state structure. A unitary state structure may be good for some countries but has problems for larger and more ethnically diverse countries like Indonesia. What most of one group (Papuans, Javanese, Balinese, Acehinese etc) want may be very different from what the other groups want. A two tiered federal structure could have the benefits of a unitary state as well as the benefits of decentralisation. If Indonesia had a federal structure then maybe it would be less prone to separatism.
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Paguh Renata Says:
December 11th, 2006 at 8:47 amAt this time, I don’t believe in Democracy for Indonesia. Look at Malaysia and Singapore, it is better to have a strong leadership without democracy. Of course, I do believe “Power tends to corrupt”. But as long as the leader has guts to eliminate corruption and develop the country properly, many Indonesian will not object. It is something that may only exist in our dream. Merdeka.
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December 13th, 2006 at 3:48 pmIt doesn’t matter what system is implemented in Indonesia, as long as the government is corrupt then we have no future.
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Rudy Hendra Says:
December 14th, 2006 at 3:34 pmYou know, in Indonesia, anything can be bought.
Law can be bought.
Policemen can be bribed.
The man at the ‘Kecamatan’, the government office in rural areas, want money. They don’t want to work.
Driving license can be bought.
KTP (Citizen card) can be bought.Maybe the whole world think that this is bad.
But I think it is very good. It makes everything simple.
Need Driving License? USD 25.
Break the traffic rule? USD 5.
Need KTP? USD 25-50 is enough, depending which town.We don’t care much about democracy.
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December 14th, 2006 at 6:01 pmA little off the topic,
So maybe we need to stop paying these people, corruption is a two way street, as long as we think that we can use money to cut corners then I don’t think corruption can end.
If you try to bribe government officials some countries you will get into trouble yourself.
So maybe KPK need to consider prosecuting people who are trying to bribe Indonesian government officials as well. Once these people are to afraid use money to cut corners then even if these officers are demanding money they won’t be given any.
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December 15th, 2006 at 12:53 amRudy Hendra,
such people like you are the problem.
You know the meaning of corruption?
To the corruption belong two persons. The corruptors, who pay money to get what you need, and the corruptible, who take the money. According to this definition you belong to the group of the corruptors, aren’t you?
Poor Indonesia. -
December 15th, 2006 at 5:13 amHear, hear…..
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December 15th, 2006 at 8:25 amHahaha…
Who cares? -
December 15th, 2006 at 9:37 amHi Rudy,
Apparently you did, if not, then just shut up and stop complaining. If you cannot contribute something positive to this community then the community does not need people like you.
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December 15th, 2006 at 10:22 amWhy you told me to shut up? There is a freedom to speak, right? Or are you just jealous?
You know brothers and sisters.
If you are living in Indonesia, and especially if you are involved in business here.
You will know, that sooner or later, you will involved in corruption.I work for a shipping company, ship owner.
I have experience in dealing with PERTAMINA. The one and only oil company in Indonesia. We need fuel for our ship. And you know, if we don’t give money to those people in PERTAMINA, we don’t get the fuel. So? Is there any choice for us?Can you give us a solution?
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Ihaknt Says:
December 15th, 2006 at 10:30 amDear Rudy
Need Driving License? USD 25.
Break the traffic rule? USD 5.
Need KTP? USD 25-50 is enough, depending which town.Providing us with something to pick on? priceless…you sound like a credit card ad
Long live korupsi…sad but true
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December 15th, 2006 at 10:36 amMan…
I really love it if we here could live as you are in other country…
Corruption free…But, before that, can you answer my question above?
———–
There is many more worse example.
My friend have a business in Bandung.
And his building get on fire.
He called up a firefighter.
And guess what”¦
The firefighter will not shoot the water to your building, if you don’t give them money first.
My friend told me that the firefighters ask for Rp 1 million, cash. That time is around year 1985. You can calculate the value that time Rp 1 million is big money.
My friend give the money to them.
No choice for us.And also another example :
If you get an accident here, traffic accident.
You are walking and a motorbike hit you, or a car hit you, and you collapsed on the street, and you broke your arms or legs. If there is a policeman there, the policeman (yes, I repeat, the policeman) will first take your wallet, before he helps you. And then he will help you.
My IT-Manager in my former company, has experienced that himself.
And many more has told me that.
If there is people ‘pribumi’ help you first before the policeman, they will take your wallet first before they help you, and before the policeman take it.So”¦?
Any choice for us?
What do you think? -
December 15th, 2006 at 11:06 amRudy
I really love it if we here could live as you are in other country”¦
Corruption free”¦there’s no such thing. Corruption is everywhere. But in Indo it’s rampant and it’s a public knowledge. And as much as people hate it, it’s the system that works there. Why? Bureaucracy. To cut thru the red tape, to go thru the system. If you have money then why waste time? Cos normally when you have money you work, work = time, time = money.
In other countries, it’s not as bureaucrytical, and other system works. Because the community (most of them anyway) uphold the laws. The laws are mostly black and white. There are some grey areas, but corruption free? No. Until the top government do something about it, all you can do is just go along with whatever works for you. It’s a sad fact, but to really fight it in Indonesia? It won’t happen, at least not in our life time.
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December 15th, 2006 at 11:58 amI really love it if we here could live as you are in other country”¦
Corruption free”¦In every country you will find corruption.
The cases you told, are known. It is sad enough. But with your current attitude (which you share with most of the Indonesian citizen) you will never move anything. You protest the situation, but you take part in this misdeeds.
Hahaha”¦Who cares?
Rudy Hendra, in a democracy you don’t just have rights, you also have duties. But I know, that many of the Indonesian think like you, especially the Chinese minority (not all, but most of them).
They think, the “pribumis” are corrupt/lazzy and they hate the chinese. Like the other ethnic groups in Indonesia, the chinese minority don’t have the competency to seek the causes of these problems in their own deeds too.
Who cares? And when the next SARA turbulences come up, let’s ask: who cares?
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December 15th, 2006 at 12:07 pmWell, after all of your explanation…
Do you have a solution for PERTAMINA cases that I describe above?
If you are in my position, what will you do?
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December 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pmStart with small things in your daily life.
I spend my youth time in Indonesia (most that time in Bandung), I know about the “friendship” of the chinese and I know enough about the corruption. And I can tell you, I have always refused to take part in this sh*t , so that I have experienced enough difficulties (I have chinese blood too, not 100%).
I live now in Europe, and in the retrospective I’m proud of my constancy.
That is not my job to seek a solution for the Pertamina problem, this is the problem of your bosses. They earn the money, so they have to do something. Or they think also like you do: Who cares? -
December 15th, 2006 at 12:40 pmAnd I can tell you, I have always refused to take part in this sh*t
Ok. Maybe PERTAMINA problem is too difficult for you.
How about the problem of my friend?
His building is on fire, and the firefighters ask money.
If you are in his position, what will you do?Choice No. 1 :
Give the money to the firefighters, and being called a corruptor also.Choice No. 2 :
Refuse to give money, and watch your building burnt into ashes.Just pick pick…
It’s not hard…And what all you guys think?
Which one will you guys pick? -
December 15th, 2006 at 12:57 pmRudy Hendra,
let’s see: the Pertamina problem is not my problem, why don’t you tell your bosses to do something, if you have so many complains about the corruption?
The problem of your friend is more difficult, surely. I would name it as an extortion (as a special form of corruption).
In such case is the most important thing primarily to save your life/house, isn’t it? Maybe you should give them the money in front of witnesses and then accuse the culprit. Isn’t there in Indonesia nowadays some good lawyers fighting for human rights?
Why not trying this way? Or is it more comfortable to pay and to be silent?
Democracy and fighting for rights is never comfortable, even in a democracy like in Europe.
There is nothing just black and white. Even chickens can still choose (in their frames) things they pick, aren’t they? -
December 15th, 2006 at 1:06 pmMaybe you should give them the money in front of witnesses and then accuse the culprit.
Aah…then you are a corruptor also, my friend.
Case closed. -
December 15th, 2006 at 1:08 pmHi Tomaculum,
Unfortunately there are people who still think that they don’t have a choice.
They complain about all the problems not knowing that they are part of the problem.
And when they are presented with some solution, they don’t listen and say “who cares”.
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December 15th, 2006 at 1:09 pmHey Rudy,
There is a different between initiating a bribe and actually extorted for money.
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December 15th, 2006 at 1:10 pmSo, Dimp.
If you are in my friend’s position, which one will you pick, my dear?
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December 15th, 2006 at 1:16 pmThere is a different between initiating a bribe and actually extorted for money.
No, the firefighters did not force you to give them the money.
They leave you 2 choice like I describe above.So…
Have you decided yet, which one would you pick? -
December 15th, 2006 at 1:19 pmHey Rudy,
You just don’t get it.
Firefighters are suppose to do the job regardless they are being paid or not, for them putting your house as a ransom means that they are extorting money from you, it is not you who initiate the bribe.
Unlike people who gives money so they can cut corners in other issues, this is initiating a bribe.
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December 15th, 2006 at 1:19 pmRudy Hendra,
read my comment carefully, please.
The situation of your friend is an extrem situation and an extrem situation needs sometimes an exceptinal solution.
Example: I’m again violence. But if I watch someone is thrating my child, I would try to do something against it, if necesary with violence. But I’m still an opponent of violence.
Do you understand the word “extortion” (=pemerasan)? Why not paying in such extrem situation? But it is very important to do something against this extortion after that. Do you understand what I mean now?
Case closed, who cares. The failure does always the other. Good luck. -
December 15th, 2006 at 1:37 pmWell, thanks, man.
I understand now.But in many cases, they extort us in many ways.
Like PERTAMINA case.
Maybe in your country, there are many fuel sellers.
Here, as you know, PERTAMINA holds monopoly.
And the fuel/bunker service for ships in Jakarta is only in one place.
The guys there want money.
If we don’t give them money, they will say : go to that man… and that man will say… go to that man… and so on… until you tired and give up, and give them money.In case like that, is it extorted also?
If it is… then if we give them money, it is not our fault. I guess.
It’s a kind of soft extortion, is it?
We are a fuel buyer, and of course we will pay the legal price for the fuel.
We do not want to give extra money.And also, for our ship that goes ocean-going, we purchase fuels in Singapore waters, not here.
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DianDoank Says:
December 15th, 2006 at 4:09 pmHi Rudy,
In much smaller scale, I have experienced the request to be involved in bribing bureaucrat in order to have a piece of paper. Not with the Pertamina but with the Department of Justice when I made recommendation letter for visa request. So the story was if you want to request visa for temporary stay at several EU countries, you need some recomendation letter from Dept. of Justice and later dept. of Foreign Affairs.
Since beginning of the process, I have heard lots of stories that it will take lots of time and money. Some people suggested that I better use “calo” (I don’t know what is the english word of calo) to make it faster and easier eventhough I might have to pay like 3-5 times more expensive than if I did it by myself (I heard that if you Chinese it might be even more to pay on things like this). However as this is my first ever temporary visa, I opted to do it myself in order to experience and see the loopholes. I scheduled around 14 days to get these two papers. At the end the process costs me around four working days and 100.000 rupiahs real administration cost instead of 2 days and 500.000 rupiahs. Plus now I get the knowledge on how these bureaucratic procedure actually proceed.
What I want to say basically, to pay bribery is an option. Not pay means that it will take ages to do simple thing (but it will happen anyway) and if you pay, it goes fast but if you have a conscious then you feel bad. I wouldn’t dare to judge Rudy for taking all necessary action to make the ship run. it is damn hard to do business in Indonesia without pay bribery. But if we don’t start from somewhere, nothing will change.I know it won’t solve your issue with Pertamina as I don’t know the loopholes in procedures but please don’t take the bribery as the only sole action to get the fuel for your ship.
By the way about the police taking wallet during accident, I have experienced that as well but the police took it for identification. And if he/she took the money, REPORT the police to their boss even better these days lots of mass media love these kind of scandals. It would not be hard to put it to the news.In bigger scale, mass media is the best way to put social pressure on corruption. hemm who knows it will works if you give an anonymous tip to the TV station on those that you have to bribe at Pertamina???:) it might stop you in getting faster service at the fuel terminal but hey it definitely stop you to pay the bribery!!!
Dimp:
I agree with the two ways of conviction on corruption; people that bribe and the party who took the money. Even better make sure that those that pay bribery get the same amount of penalty as those accepted the bribery. -
December 15th, 2006 at 4:30 pmWell, in that case, Ms. Dian…
I think, I will be a lone fighter.
One man against the whole system…
Have you seen “Hero” movie?You know, I have experience go to PERTAMINA, and well… all buyer there give money, openly, to the guy at the desk.
The guy always make his drawer opened, and all buyer, all of them put money to the drawer, after the guy finished working on their paper.So..
I think it is some kind of ‘tanda terima kasih’.And because I understand … how small their salary is… how many their children is… I understand. How can he live in Jakarta with all of his family, only from his salary? I understand. I give him the money.
Please don’t judge that as corruption.You ever live in Indonesia. You must know how much a government employee’s salary is. (Gaji pegawai negeri).
And the policeman on the street, asking for money if you are get caught. We also understand. How can he live in Jakarta with all his wife and children with small salary? I am fully understand of their condition.
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December 15th, 2006 at 5:13 pmHi Rudy,
One man against the whole system, this is why corruption will never cease, as everyone hesitate to do something to fix the system, they always think that you cannot do it by yourself. True you may not be able to fix the system, true that you may not be able to finish the project, but you can start it.
One man can start, another will follow, you will never know, if you never try.
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December 15th, 2006 at 5:18 pmBTW Rudy,
You mentioned the movie “Hero”, I think this is not a good movie to compare to this problem, true that he is just one man going against the whole Empire, but then he actually realised that his action was inappropriate, thus he did not kill the Emperor, rather giving himself up.
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December 15th, 2006 at 5:26 pmHi Pak Rudy,
I think you definitely not alone when you fight the coruption system. Or at least in this forum you won’t be alone
hehehe
I understand it is hard to fight something that become a culture but when you never try to stop it, in the end it won’t give anything good come out from it.I am really sorry pak Rudy but I still think that when you give something to someone as thankyou note when they finished their job which they are obligated anyway…it is still a coruption. It is hard to say but well it is a coruption. Police asked money in the street yes it is a coruption. There should be a line on this. thank you money I guess would be if you ask your office boy to buy cigarretes or lunch in his leisure time then after that you gave him some money. It was not his task to provide you with your personal needs but hey he is nice - hemmm is that good example hemmm:)
As you mentioned…live in Indonesia is hard. Still it doesn’t justify to ask for more money for doing their job description…just because it can be fast and less pain.By the way on topic of government employee got less pay that’s true but still not a justification on get “thank you money”. Both my parents are government employees. My father used to be school director for a government institution. Not a big government institution but still once you finished your education, you can be a government employee.
Every year near the acceptance exam, lots of prospective student came with their parents and wanted to give money to him. My father always turned it down. He thinks that he just can not live with that kind of way. Doing these action, made him to think how to stop these thank you note actions and change it with a healthy financial source to those people below him that used to accept these kind of money. So then he opted to develop the research facilities of the institution. As an educational institution, there a capacity to do lots of academic researchs not only for government projects but also to private sector. Once they can built reputation around it, these staffs able to use their expertise and eventually got their additional finance from there. Even better the students also has perfect possibility to involve in reasearch which then improved their knowledge, sometimes pocket money and extended CV.
It was not always worked at every place where he stationed. Actually at one other place he was disliked due of his anti corruption attitude, it was a hell actually for our family at that time. But he at least he lived up to his principle and earned respect from doing right things. And at some level people who works with him know the feeling of doing right things!! And there’s an option for everything!! I think that is important as well to experience before you surrender to act of coruption.
Would that make my father a tragic hero? Hehehehe dunno coz we need to ask him on that regards but I feel proud to have parents that dare to against the stream because he has principle. Further, he did live up to his expectation on that. Anyway, who said that if you live up to principle you will always a happy material life but definitely we are rich in our soul (haiyaaa:)
Begitu pak Rudy yang baik….
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December 15th, 2006 at 5:33 pmMy favorite quote in regards to change management:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
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December 16th, 2006 at 1:31 pmRight, DianDoank!
Millions of ants are able to move a big stone. -
Hassan Says:
January 9th, 2007 at 3:20 pmOh, (big time) corrupters, did you know that the money you stole could instead be used to feed people with busung lapar all over Indonesia? But you care more about your fancy cars, multi storey houses and apartments, Jewelry, yachts, and the money to educate your children abroad.
I wondered how Indonesia would be if our country were not plagued by corruption since our independence. Japan? Korea? Taiwan?
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January 9th, 2007 at 4:40 pmHi Hassan,
The problem with our country is that “law” can still be bought, so the big time corruptors do not see the “law” as something that they need to be fearful of. We can still clearly see how the “law” punish the rich, Tommy Soeharto, was only punished lightly. Akbar Tandjung can still resume his political career after convicted. The “law” in Indonesia is a joke.
We need to be strict like China, we need to provide coffins for these big time corruptors.
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1ndra Says:
January 9th, 2007 at 6:53 pmWe need excellent punisher that couldnt be bought.
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Sjahrir Says:
May 9th, 2007 at 7:50 amHi Kanakahuko,
your comment is quite interesting!!! I’m not a supporter of islamic law, but should be understood that such demand comes from some groups in the country. Beside, if the absence of law regulating pornography and religious law is an indicator of democracy, Sweden will not be the first ranked country because it has state-church (which just abolished in 2000), and Canada would be there as well because it has regulation on pornography.Come on Man, democracy does not mean you can do everything seenak udelmu!
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