Political decaying in Indonesia: hyperinformation, influencers lacking logical competence, and normalized nepotism
Reflecting on the path our founding fathers took to become the architects of our nation, they distinguished themselves by being the most knowledgeable within their circles.
Armed with decent education, multilingual capabilities, and the authorship of significant works, they laid the foundation for our country.
However, the sentiment expressed by Soekarno, who once proclaimed, “Give me ten young men (or women) and I will shake the world,” seems to have lost its relevance in contemporary Indonesia.
In the present day, if we identify ten influential figures among the youth, they frequently emerge as TikTok dancers, celebrities lacking substantive contributions, or Instagram/TV personalities with highly questionable logical coherence.
This observation prompts myinquiries into the shifting landscape of societal values and the evolving dynamics of influence within our nation.
I am deeply pessimistic.
Indonesia appears unprepared for the challenges posed by digitalization and hyperinformation. With a projected population of 275.36 million people as of June 2022, only a 6.41% have attained education up to the university level.
This low percentage underscores potential obstacles in effectively navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape and the influx of abundant information.
Hyperinformation in Indonesia
The age of hyperinformation brings forth both prospects and difficulties for the impending political evolution (or decline) in Indonesia. Platforms such as Twitter (now X) and TikTok have emerged as the primary channels for staying abreast of daily occurrences, encompassing political developments.
I plan to use Samuel Huntington’s idea about political decay and a corrupted political system. In his research “Political Development and Political Decay” he explains how many modernizing countries prioritize quick social changes, but it ends up causing political deterioration.
This decline in political institutions often doesn’t get enough attention in the literature on modernization.
As a result, models and concepts labeled as “developing” or “modernizing” often only partly apply to the countries they’re talking about.
In the present day, we no longer rely on waiting for deliveries of newspapers like Kompas or Tempo, and there’s no need to tune in to SCTV at 18:00 to stay updated on daily news. Everyone has become a media source in their own right.
According to the World Population Review, Indonesia is thought to have the second-highest number of TikTok users globally. An estimated 99 million individuals in Indonesia are believed to regularly engage with the platform. With the ongoing expansion of internet access in the country, the potential exists for even more Indonesians to start using the platform in the future.
The issue lies in the emergence of TikTok as a platform for political expression, giving rise to individuals, often referred to as “buzzers,” who actively campaign during elections. These TikTok political experts can easily garner extensive exposure on the platform.
The ability to produce 15–60 minute videos with minimal and superficial research before posting enables them to potentially sway the opinions of viewers significantly. This ease of dissemination poses concerns about the quality and accuracy of information shaping public perspectives.
What’s even more concerning is the recent surge of hate sentiment against Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, leading to a wave of individuals, particularly from one university, actively advocating for the deportation of the refugees.
The prevalence of empty-headed individuals eagerly awaiting hate-driven posts to ignite movements on this platform has contributed to both political and moral decay among such people.
Idiots with platforms
The 2024 election serves as evidence that a significant portion of Indonesians is ill-prepared to navigate the daily deluge of hyperinformation in society.
Political discussions have become inexpensive, with everyone expressing their opinions, regardless of whether the substance is well-researched. Numerous celebrities portray themselves as ‘experts’, despite lacking any knowledge of political concepts.
Even more concerning is the fact that individuals with lower levels of education tend to endorse ideas that lack a factual basis, are logically unsound, and some even contradict the fundamental principles of democracy.
Francis Fukuyama, in his book ‘Identity,’ highlights the longstanding concept of political identity, even evident in Karl Marx’s ideas that view political struggles as mirrors of economic conflicts.
However, this perspective seems less applicable in Indonesia.
Many individuals from the middle class to the lower-income bracket among the younger generation appear to lack a substantive understanding, often unquestioningly following the ill-logical narratives propagated by celebrities and public figures. This observation raises concerns about the intellectual depth and critical thinking within this demographic.
Less fortunate individuals grappling with economic challenges appear to deflect their own struggles through political apathy or subscribing to logically baseless opinions propagated by misguided influencers.
The unrestricted ability of public figures with at least one million followers to express any statements in real time, devoid of moderation, raises concerns.
An example is an Indonesian comedian who casually claimed, “whoever is the leader later on, we will still work by ourselves,” a sentiment that may seem harmless to those with empty minds but carries potential dangers for democracy.
Such statements can discourage civic engagement, leading many to abstain from voting or make uninformed choices, contributing to a gradual decay of democratic values.
As an educated Indonesian, the outlook isn’t promising. I often point out the hypocrisy and nonsensical fallacies from these individuals, but it seems like I’m in the minority.
Witnessing the country slowly unravel from a distance is disheartening.
Nepotism is the new normal
Recall my piece on Indonesia’s Joffrey Baratheon? Following the vice-presidential debate, Gibran Rakabuming emerged victorious. Gibran appeared to have effectively outwitted Mahfud MD and Muhaimin during the debate, and this was evident in people’s responses afterward.
From my observations, many individuals are impressed with Gibran’s performance, except those with REAL academic backgrounds.
The majority appears to have overlooked how Gibran secured his position, involving the manipulation of the Constitutional Court (MK) and his father’s intervention.
Unfortunately, this seems to be the new normal. As someone actively working towards achieving the best outcome in the 2024 election, the prevailing dynamics can be quite disheartening.
The future of Indonesia seems imminent, and I can already sense the decay from today. As an Indonesian, my contribution is limited to analysis, and regrettably, I hold a pessimistic view about what lies ahead for my nation.
