Category: Democratic News

More than 193 million Indonesians are expected to head to the polls on 17 April, choosing a president and vice president along with members of parliament and provincial and district legislatures in one of the largest and most complex single-day elections in history. They will be voting in the latest instalment of a democracy that has proved remarkably resilient and adaptable to a host of challenges, but one that now risks losing some of its sheen as a global model for democratic practice.

The Indonesian political establishment is justifiably proud of the country’s democratic bona fides, but it’s also understandably concerned about its reputation as a flawed democracy. For many in the global policy community, particularly in Washington, Indonesia’s hesitance to condemn and isolate Russia’s aggression or side with the United States in its disputes with China makes it look less than fully committed to democratic principles. And the country’s failure to lead in addressing the threat of climate change could have a similarly damaging effect on its reputation abroad.

Those concerns have become more acute as Indonesia approaches the 2024 presidential election, scheduled for simultaneous nationwide local elections. The key question is not whether Indonesia will have a genuine electoral contest, but rather how well it will play out.

Indonesian elections are often messy affairs, replete with electoral clientelism and vote-buying. But they are also highly competitive. For two decades, the winner of a presidential election has been the candidate most willing and capable of drawing support from Indonesia’s widest range of identity groups. This is what Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, did to win the presidency twice in 2014 and 2019, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by foreign observers.

Jokowi’s successes have been a product of his ability to tamp down religious polarization. In both 2014 and 2019, the enfant terrible of Indonesian politics, former general Prabowo Subianto, came perilously close to winning the presidency by whipping up Islamist and antiminority sentiments, but was defeated by a more pluralistic candidate with better credentials.

A similar dynamic is at play in the 2024 contest, but with a twist. Prabowo leads a small party that would need to coalesce with another significant one to clear the electoral threshold and run for president. The potential candidates to succeed Jokowi—Ganjar Pranowo, the governor of Central Java, and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the leader of the country’s governing coalition—all have favorable ratings above 50 percent in public opinion polling and are more likely to assemble broad-based coalitions. The question is whether they will do so, or succumb to the pressures to revert to an authoritarian style of governance. It is a question that is resonating around the world, not just in Washington and Brussels but in Beijing and Jakarta as well. A version of this article first appeared in the New York Times on 23 January 2019. Read it here. Copyright NYT Media Limited 2019; all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”). In its most basic sense, it is government of, by and for the people. It is an idea that has been cherished by many people throughout history and promoted by the United Nations. It is a concept that encompasses the principles of human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, and good governance.

The defining feature of a democracy is popular sovereignty – in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. This means that people are guaranteed to be involved in running their own countries through regular, free and fair elections. Democracy also entails the principle of the majority rule, in which decisions are made by the largest group of voters. However, it must be emphasized that this does not mean that the majority’s will is absolute or infallible, and that there is always room for improvement.

A democracy also entails equality and the rule of law. It means that women and men have equal rights and that all people are protected from discrimination, including sex, religion and ethnicity. It requires that decision-makers are accountable to the citizens, and that laws are not used to discriminate against anyone. A democratic system must be fair and free of corruption.

It must also guarantee the right to freedom of speech and the press, allowing citizens to express their opinions freely without fear of reprisal or violence. Moreover, democracy must allow for the peaceful assembly of citizens, allowing them to hold protests against issues they believe are important. This is the very essence of the concept, and this can be seen in the so-called Arab Spring, when masses of people took to the streets to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with their governments.

Lastly, it is necessary that decisions are taken on the basis of the broadest possible consensus, ensuring the involvement of a wide range of interests and viewpoints. This is why, in a democracy, the government should be composed of many political parties and coalitions. This is the essence of democracy and this is why it is different from a dictatorship, where one person or a small group of individuals has total control over all aspects of politics.

While democracies are widely considered to be the preferred form of government, they are not the only model for a country’s political system. There are parliamentary, presidential and federal democracies, proportional and majoritarian voting systems, and even monarchies that have democratic features. It would be impossible to measure the many diverse democracies in the world with a single yardstick and to compare them to each other.

It is also not easy to measure the effects of democracy on development. This is due to the fact that democracy involves a complex set of institutions, and it can be difficult to study their impact on different phenomena, such as inequality or poverty, in detail. Furthermore, it is difficult to measure democracy within a country because of the differences in electoral procedures and institutions that can vary widely between different countries. As a result, the academic literature on democracy has largely focused on cross-country comparisons.

Whether or not one accepts the American presidential system as a model of democracy, it is undeniable that it has serious flaws. The Electoral College, winner-takes-all rule for state legislative elections, the political party machinery and money politics are among these flaws that undermine the basic principles of democracy.

The US has also frequently used democracy as a pretext for meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, undermining world peace and stability, as well as social tranquility in other countries. This makes people around the world wonder if the US is really a democracy.

As the world struggles with issues like climate change, food and water shortages, poverty and inequality, the US is in a desperate need to conduct some soul-searching, especially about its own democratic status. Many US allies, including those in the EU, regard its democracy as a “shattered has-been” that needs major reforms.

Even though the American public is disillusioned with US politicians, it seems that few have a sense of responsibility for promoting reforms. The polarized political atmosphere and the party-centric focus of the two major parties prevent the formation of coalitions that can push forward reforms. Instead, the focus is on re-election and winning big votes in the upcoming elections.

The problem is that the American governing process has been hijacked by interest groups and capital. The principle of “government of the people, by the people and for the people” has been lost. Politics has become more like a scene in a Hollywood movie, with public pledges of dedication to the people but behind-the-scene deals. Political infighting, veto power and the influence of money are all making it impossible for quality governance to be delivered.

One of the biggest problems is the fact that, although the founding fathers enshrined the principle of equality in the Constitution, racism has never been completely eradicated. The COVID-19 crisis was a clear example of how the country’s inequalities and social injustice can affect the nation’s ability to manage a crisis.

The partisan divisions have even spread to the judicial system, where the Supreme Court has become nothing more than a battleground for the control of the country’s constitutional institutions. As the institution that has shaped the Constitution and American society for 160 years, it is important for the judicial system to retain its independence from partisanship. Otherwise, the US will continue to be seen as a threat to other nations rather than as a pillar of international stability and peace. In short, if America wants the world to believe in its self-proclaimed “democracy”, it should pragmatically reassess its diplomatic methods and make changes accordingly. Only then will the world have reason to trust the US as a model of democracy.

Freedom is an important concept in our world. It represents a basic human right that we all want and should be able to enjoy. However, there are many different definitions of freedom, and it’s not always easy to know what the true meaning is. One of the most common definitions is freedom from constraint, or the ability to act as you choose. However, this definition does not take into account the fact that there are always constraints imposed on everyone and everything. Even if we don’t realize it, the world around us is constantly restricting our freedom, and it’s up to us to discipline our actions accordingly.

A good example of this is multi-tasking. Everyone is convinced they can watch YouTube while writing a report, but in reality, you’re more likely to spend 3x – 10x longer completing the report than if you were simply focusing on it. This is because it’s impossible to properly focus on two things at once. This is one of the many reasons why Freedom is such a useful tool: it allows you to block websites and apps for specific periods of time, so you can focus on your work without being distracted.

The process of signing up to Freedom is fairly simple, and the site doesn’t ask you for a credit card or any other financial information. Once you sign up, you’re taken to the dashboard where you can select when you want to start blocking and which devices you want to use it on. You can start a session straight away, schedule a block-time for later, or set it up to recur at a certain interval.

One of the best features of Freedom is that it syncs across all your devices, so you’ll be able to block distractions on any computer, tablet or phone you have access to. This is great because it means the same addictive app that was stealing your attention on your laptop will be blocked on all of your other devices too, and you’ll be able to concentrate on the task at hand.

Another cool feature of Freedom is the option to lock your blocks, which will prevent you from deleting them or exiting the app until the blocking period is over. This is a great way to build your self-discipline and stop yourself from giving in to temptation. If you do happen to accidentally exit Freedom before your block-time is over, you can contact support and they’ll get back to you within 30 minutes or less. This is a great feature that really helps to boost your productivity. Freedom also offers a range of other cool extras to help you become more productive, such as ambient noise, an auto-pause and the ability to customize your own productivity playlist. This makes it one of the best tools to help you achieve your goals and stay focused. This is especially important in this day and age where so many of our distractions come from online.

Law is a set of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Its precise definition has been a subject of longstanding debate. Law has been variously described as a science and as an art of justice.

At its most basic, law is about mitigating conflict. Societies create laws to establish clear context for what actions are acceptable, provide guidance for consequences and ensure that those who violate societal norms are punished accordingly. This role has been crucial throughout human history, and it is no less so today.

To function effectively, legal systems require that they be stable, accessible and publicly acknowledged. They must also be applied evenly and fairly, and they must ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to access justice. This is the foundation of the rule of law, which is a core component of democracy.

As societies change, so must the law. It was the law that made slavery and segregation illegal, for example. And it is the law that protects people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Law is a tool for social change, and it needs to evolve with the times.

The vast scope of law means that it can be broken down into a few core subjects, although these tend to intertwine and overlap. These include labour law, which covers the tripartite relationship between worker, employer and trade union; criminal law, which governs conduct that is deemed harmful to society; and civil law, which outlines how individuals can resolve disputes through court proceedings.

Some laws are explicitly based on religious precepts, such as the Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia, while others have been derived through interpretation (Qiyas or Ijma), consensus and precedent (normally in common law jurisdictions). The precise content of law is always a matter of choice, but it cannot comprise behaviours which are unattainable or force people to do things which are beyond their capabilities.

Almost every aspect of human life is touched by some form of law. It is, therefore, necessary to study all aspects of law in order to gain a comprehensive understanding. Law is the foundation of many academic disciplines, such as legal history, philosophy and economic analysis.

In addition, a knowledge of the law is essential for all professionals. This is because the law influences everything we do and, as such, it is crucial for our professional and personal success. A good understanding of the law helps us make better decisions, manage risks more effectively and contribute to a fair and just society. Having a thorough knowledge of the law also gives us greater confidence in the legal system as a whole, which is an important element of our security and well-being. So, whether you are an accountant, banker or engineer, there is something for everyone in the world of law. If you want to learn more about the laws that affect you, consider studying law at university.

As the largest archipelago in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is home to a diverse population living with an array of economic and social challenges. The nation’s recent record on poverty reduction has been impressive, but still leaves 10 percent of the population living below the national poverty line. Meanwhile, political opportunists and intolerant religious leaders are exploiting public anxiety to stifle needed reforms and undermine democratic norms.

Since the end of the Suharto era, democracy has been under strain in Indonesia. Many of the problems stem from the inherited legacy of the New Order, which built its legitimacy by promising stability and development in a fractious post-colonial state that struggled with identity conflicts and regional instability. In the latter years of his rule, Suharto increasingly relied on centralized power and a system of “guidance” that delegated policymaking authority to the presidency.

The transition to direct regional elections in 2005 shifted the balance of power from local legislatures, which rubber-stamped executives appointed by Jakarta, to voters. This was a step in the right direction, but it has also created problems. Indonesian voters often lack the electoral sophistication to make informed decisions, and the system is vulnerable to horse-trading between parties for votes at the regional level. The result is that citizens’ policy preferences are rarely reflected in their elected officials’ performance.

Many of the issues facing Indonesia today reflect a continuing failure to build functional institutions and resolve long-standing regional, class, and religion-based tensions. During the New Order era, Suharto and his followers sought to relegate these issues to the sidelines of politics, which they saw as an obstacle to their goals of economic modernization and social stabilization.

As a result, the political environment has become polarized and increasingly toxic, with elements within the police and security forces obstructing corruption investigations and harassing those who speak out against them. Indonesians’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly are enshrined in the constitution, but government control over the media is limited, and civil society groups face numerous restrictions on their operations.

The country’s future depends on whether President Jokowi can overcome these forces and build a viable political coalition to push through much-needed reforms, and sustain Indonesia’s progress toward democracy. Our assessment draws on our own field research and extensive interviews with politicians, senior officials, human rights advocates, and others. It takes into account the nation’s history, geography, and culture, as well as the dynamics of its political system. It is intended to stimulate further discussion among Indonesians and other stakeholders about the country’s progress, challenges, and prospects for the future of democracy in indonesia. Sana Jaffrey is a nonresident scholar in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Follow her on Twitter @SanaJaffrey. This article is based on a research project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Grant No. AID-PDI-2024-002-0016. This publication is made possible by the generous support of the European Union under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The content does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or its funders.

Democracy is government by the people, in which control over policy decisions is constitutionally vested in elected officials. Citizens have the right to vote in regular elections and to freely express their views without the threat of severe punishment for their political opinions. These rights are safeguarded by a rule of law that protects human rights and limits the powers of government.

As the world faces new and increasingly difficult challenges, it’s important that we keep working to understand and describe how a democratic society functions. Democracy is at risk and its survival is in question in many parts of the world. The work to better understand what it means to have a democracy and how best to ensure its flourishing can help us solve some of the most difficult problems we face.

The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”). It was first used in the 5th century BCE to refer to a form of government that existed in some of the city-states of Greece, particularly Athens. The term later came to be applied to other governmental systems that were loosely comparable to the Athens model, including some of the ancient Roman republics and some medieval city-based republics in Italy, Venice, and Florence. Democracy also found a place in some monarchical European states, most notably Sweden starting in the 15th century.

While some governments claim to be democracies, only those that meet the five basic criteria can truly be described as such. The other key component of a democracy is the principle that all people are equal under the law. This includes the right to freedom of movement within a country and the right to leave if one wishes, as well as the right to form and join associations of their choice, such as trade unions. It also covers the right to discuss ideas with others, to gather together and protest against decisions that are made by the government.

It takes a great deal of time and effort to organize free, fair, and legitimate elections. The right to vote and the right to voice a view on any issue should be guaranteed without exception, and all parties must be given an opportunity to compete in equal conditions. The system must be protected from corruption, intimidation, and violence, and the results must be based on objective criteria. It must also be easy for voters to verify that their votes have been counted correctly and that no fraudulent voting has occurred.

The right to assembly and association includes the ability to speak out in public against decisions by a government that is unfair or harmful, as well as to participate in the development of the nation’s culture. This right must be exercised peacefully and with respect for the rights of other citizens, as spelled out in UDHR Article 20. These rights are not just a nicety; they are essential to the health of any democracy.

Despite America’s current reputation as the world’s greatest democracy, many people wonder whether it is really a democracy at all. Indeed, the US has repeatedly used the concept of American-style democracy as a pretext to meddle in other countries’ internal affairs, undermining peace and social tranquility in these countries, causing political chaos, and even leading to civil wars and dictatorships. This has made the US look hypocritical and tarnished. The US has to conduct a thorough self-examination and stop promoting itself as a model for other countries to follow.

The acute threats to democracy are symptomatic of long-term problems in American society, such as declining faith in politics, entrenched political polarization, and decades of status loss and dignity deficits on the part of some groups. These factors have destabilized the immune system of democracy, allowing today’s threats to flourish.

America’s political class has become more like a carefully set up scene in Hollywood movies where well-heeled characters publicly pledge commitment to the people but actually busy themselves with behind the scenes deals. The result is that Americans increasingly distrust democracy and feel a lack of trust in the government.

In addition, the polarization of the political process and the long-term decline in status for some groups are fueling the growth of extremism and populism in the country. To restore the legitimacy of democracy, America must address these issues and show that it can uphold public order, ethics, and progress for all.

It is also essential to build a vision of what democracy in America looks like and can be in the future. This requires dialogue across key societal pillars, including business, religious institutions, and racial and generational communities of interest. It also means building a vision of an America that recognizes the contradictions and complexities of people’s identities, upends hierarchical images of the nation, and promotes the value of diversity.

The effort to build this vision of a prodemocracy movement must include reshaping its image and messaging to resonate with diverse American demographics. For example, efforts could be made to diffuse the current image of a great replacement theory by using deliberative democracy exercises and other strategies to shape a picture of America in which complex identities are embraced.

HeinOnline is proud to partner with Wake Forest University Libraries in offering this enhanced ebook version of Democracy in America, a vital and accessible guide to understanding Tocqueville’s classic text. It includes expert annotations by retired associate director of collection services at Wake Forest, Alan Keely, that help students and scholars connect with the original writing, as well as full-text links to works of primary and secondary reference. This innovative, interactive edition enables users to move seamlessly between the primary sources and Tocqueville’s text. It’s the perfect tool for research in history, sociology, political science, law, and public policy.

Freedom is an incredibly important concept to understand and embrace. It is the foundation of many societal benefits, including prosperity, happiness and progress. Freedom is necessary to ensure that people feel valued and have the opportunity to achieve their goals in a society that is as prosperous as possible. Freedom brings with it a wide array of personal advantages, including free speech, free choice, freedom to peacefully protest and the freedom to earn. Freedom also has a number of societal advantages, which are outlined below.

The Freedom app is a website and mobile application that blocks websites and apps, allowing users to focus on work or other activities. It works based on sessions, which are periods of time during which the app blocks websites and applications. Each session can be set to start immediately, to end at a specific time or to be recurring. When the session is over, the blocked websites and apps are unblocked. The app has a variety of built-in block lists that users can choose from or can create their own custom block list, making it easy to get started.

To use the Freedom app, users need to sign up and provide their email address. Once they do, they will be taken to a dashboard where they can select the devices on which they want to block websites and apps. Once they have selected the devices, users can choose whether they want to begin blocking straight away, schedule a block-time for later or set it up as a recurring block. After selecting the options, the user can then click ‘Start my free trial now’ to begin using the app.

Although the app does require permission to block certain apps, websites and notifications, it promises that it does not send any data to servers or monitor your activity. Those who are extra concerned about privacy and security can take advantage of the free 7-use trial offered by Freedom to try out the service before committing.

Aside from the ability to block websites and apps, Freedom also allows users to set productivity goals for themselves, track their progress, create a focused environment with focus sounds and even use a feature that blocks distractions while typing on a keyboard. The app is very easy to use and, once you get the hang of it, can help you develop good habits of staying productive. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can do so by visiting the official website and clicking ‘Start my free trial now.’ Once the trial is over, the user will be prompted to sign up for an account to continue using Freedom. The pricing is affordable and is the same for everyone, regardless of which tier of membership they select. Those who wish to continue after the 7-use trial can choose between an annual or monthly subscription. For those who are considering signing up for a long-term commitment, the monthly option is the most economical at $8.99/month.

The law is a set of rules and regulations that governs society. It serves many purposes, including establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. Law influences politics, economics, history and society in a variety of ways and is an important aspect of human civilization.

Law relates to both the written and unwritten rules of a particular culture. It also varies from one place to another as different cultures and societies develop their own unique set of traditions, customs and beliefs. Nevertheless, a common definition of law is any set of rules or principles that are considered binding by a controlling authority and are enforced through judicial decisions. Laws can be both positive and negative, and can range from unwritten rules to comprehensive codes of conduct.

Legal systems vary in the way they interpret and enforce laws, but there are general distinctions between civil law jurisdictions and common law jurisdictions. The former rely on legislative and central body codification, while the latter use a system of judge-made precedent known as case law. Some religious communities also have their own legal systems, such as Islamic Sharia and Christian canon law.

In addition to regulating activities that affect people, the law can regulate human relations and define their boundaries. Contract law, for example, sets out the obligations and duties of parties involved in agreements. Property law defines people’s rights and responsibilities toward their tangible possessions, such as houses or cars. Criminal law deals with activities that are deemed harmful to social order and provides a structure for punishing offenders.

The study of the law is a complex and multidisciplinary undertaking, involving philosophy, history, economic analysis, sociology and anthropology. It also raises important ethical issues about justice and equality, which are debated in a wide range of scholarly literature.

The legal profession requires a high level of academic knowledge and skills and a commitment to serve the interests of clients. To maintain professionalism, lawyers must follow specific disciplinary procedures, pass a bar exam and participate in continuing legal education. Some lawyers choose to specialize in certain areas of the law, such as corporate and tax law or family law.

The law is not just a collection of rules, but a set of guidelines that is applied to specific situations and people. This is why it is so difficult to give a clear and definitive definition of law. Some scholars, such as John Salmond, have developed ideologies about the nature of law that are informed by philosophical perspectives. In addition, law is constantly changing as new problems arise.