The Image of Democracy
Law enforcement, especially on practices that damage democracy, such as corruption and intolerance, are things that need priority. Efforts to bring prosperity will run better in the democratic and non-corrupt system.
Rizal Sukma
During the New Order regime, observers and the international community generally referred to Indonesia as an authoritarian developmentalist country, a country where the government built political legitimacy based on the results of economic development, by applying the principle of authoritarianism in exercising power. This identity was attached for more than three decades, until President Soeharto's resignation in 1998.
After the downfall of the New Order, one of the problems faced by Indonesia was how to formulate and project a positive identity and image on the international stage. Various major problems in the country made the international community doubt that Indonesia was entering the transition of democracy. Indonesia was only seen as a country that was experiencing a transition from authoritarianism. However, at that time it was still difficult to suspect whether the transition would move toward democracy or would even return to new authoritarianism.