As the world’s third-largest democracy inches closer toward only its third democratic election, most of its 190-million-strong voters amble on, oblivious to its significance. In its 69 years of existence, Indonesia has had 11 elections and seven presidents — only one of whom was ever truly picked by the people of the republic to lead the nation.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s 10 years in office as the country’s helmsman is quickly coming to an end, and election season seems to be greeted with as much fervor as warranted by a passing butterfly.
Indonesia isn’t quite known as a country that gets excited about its politics. The general take seems to be an odd mixture of citizens being bemused or cynical; a frustration with the supposedly slow rate of progress.
Indonesia is post-reformation — the passion and exhilaration that beset Egypt and the other Arab Spring countries was present in the Indonesian political milieu of the late 1990s.
With the incumbent strongman gone, hope for a new start and for new directions soared high.
Democracy had finally arrived, and change was imminent.
It is hence fascinating how quickly disillusionment sets in. Historical amnesia seems to have wiped away the wrongs of the Soeharto-era and instead recolored the grainy photos with a wash of nostalgia for the “good old days,” before this new-fangled demo-crazy government. It is on this sentiment that Prabowo Subianto rides on, his New Order legacy giving him the credentials needed for a hopeless republic.
On the opposing side, the popular Joko Widodo has touched the hearts of his supporters in a completely different way — by promising a new breed of politician, one that is clean, honest and accessible, devoid of convoluted rhetoric and empty promises. The two candidates stand on polar ends of the spectrum. One beckons us towards a strong and comforting past, while the other promises a reform of the Reformation Era. Both are welcome faces to a population ready for a change.
Yet one should not look exclusively to the current players of the game where change is concerned. Tired as the phrase may be, the future lies with the young.
In this sense, it becomes a fascinating exercise to plumb the minds of Indonesia’s diaspora: it’s youth abroad, scattered across the globe in pursuit of their studies. Oftentimes it is only their family and passport tying them back to the motherland.
Many of them have been educated in international schools that have equipped them with language skills and mannerisms to rival the natives of this great Western world.
They are groomed to pursue tertiary education abroad, sometimes with a one-way plane ticket.
There are many implications that may be teased out of the problem of brain drain. The catchy phrase has been used as a umbrella diagnosis by development experts in identifying the problems which plague developing countries. The cure for everything from increasingly extremist ideology to stagnant research and development to economic growth seems to be putting a stopper on this leak of capital.
In other words, this demographic harbors great potential to produce future leaders of this nation.
It is thus encouraging to note that many of them express an interest in ultimately coming back home to Indonesia. Reasons slated have ranged from familial to national duty, and sometimes even the more practical realization that work visas are becoming increasingly competitive to obtain.
Michelle, a student currently studying in Los Angeles, expressed hesitation when asked to comment on the current election race, saying that she didn’t know much about it.
“I don’t even know when it’s going on,” she said, but said that she did feel like it was almost mandatory of her to return to her roots. “I’m Indonesian. I’ll come back even though [there are] not much changes.”
Like many of her peers, she expressed frustration about the slow rate of change, yet hoped to contribute to the community. Michelle mentioned that she would not know how to enact actual change, despite wanting to help.
This lack of knowledge on how to exercise political agency seems to be a reoccurring theme amongst many of the youth, often leading to exasperation at the perceived inevitability of things.
A student who wished to remain anonymous expressed her parents’ reservations about her intent to join politics.
They cited her status as a minority in both gender and ethnicity, as well as the atmosphere and “complicated system” of Indonesian politics. “Keep in mind that I’m just an ideal youth,” she said.
Brea Salim, author of “Bright Eyes,” a compilation of essays which details the experiences of being the only Indonesian in her American boarding school, commented on how a life in the United States would be good for “individual growth,” but nothing greater than that.
“How much change can I bring?” she said of her plans to eventually return to Indonesia.
“Stepping out of the country has helped me realize my identity as an Indonesian. I understand where the cynicism comes from, but the challenge comes from maintaining optimism for change.”
By Andrea Wijaya on 09:00 am Jun 11, 2014
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