Author: Ahmad Harris *
In May 2018, a number of political experts wrote their judgments on the ongoing democracy in the world. In this article, the experts carried the theme “Is Democracy Dying? A Global Report. “A number of experts consider that democracy today betrays the basic principles of democracy itself, such as maintaining pluralism, freedom of expression and anti-discriminatory commitment to any party.
Betrayal of the principles of democracy can be seen from the Election mechanism as a system that manages the change of leadership on a regular basis. Because, in various countries, the election is a reflection of the low respect for democracy today. Prospective leaders who participate in candidates actually present as destructive figures of pluralism by using ideas of identity politics. Likewise, freedom of speech and anti-discriminatory attitudes are betrayed by potential leaders on the platform that is said to be democracy.
Prospective leaders who actually betrayed the principle of democracy, often use paranoid styles as something that can be exploited to arouse anger. This eventually spreads anger so that people will ignore the objective reality of a problem and prioritize subjective perceptions of their anger. This increasingly widespread anger continues to be exploited by certain parties to win elections.
The writings of these experts seem to reflect the current state of Indonesia. One of the presidential candidates, Prabowo Subianto, seems to be playing paranoid politics or popularly known as pessimism politics. The aim is none other than to arouse the anger of the Indonesian people. Various cases were appointed by Prabowo’s party to trigger anger towards his opponent, President Jokowi. Starting from the case of Ratna Sarumpaet, the issue of criminalizing ulama, the criminalization of East Kalimantan cagub, until the criminalization of the Governor of Papua is always raised to spread anger among the people.
A number of experts did judge Prabowo’s efforts as a form of negative campaign that was legitimate. Unfortunately, only a number of experts understood that Prabowo played a paranoid politics which actually threatened the principle of democracy itself. Prabowo’s efforts to carry out identity politics at this time actually led to the emergence of large polarization in various circles. Not infrequently, to give rise to anarchism and persecution. In addition, the preparation of lie narratives such as the issue of criminalization of cagub, the issue of Ratra Sarumpaet has also violated the right to freedom of opinion itself.
Of course everyone is free to argue as long as he does not spread lies and provocations that can divide the nation. To anticipate this, the community should also understand the situation and conditions that develop. As the lie narrative has spread widely, the community must be able to validate a problem raised. Don’t let the community only become a toy for Prabowo’s political ways that carry a scare style.
In the long run, Prabowo’s method of using paranoid politics will cause Indonesia to fall more into polarization and tensions between the two supporters. A way that actually betrays the principle of democracy itself. Prabowo should have opened a new page in 2019 and began to replace the unhealthy political way. It would be better and more harmonious, if Prabowo uses a political way that glorifies humans while also highlighting the programs that will be carried out. Undoubtedly, Indonesian democracy will go towards a better direction.
- FISIP students at the Dharma Agung University