December 30, 2025 | 10:00 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - There is a myth about military superiority in politics that was shaped through education and political practices during the New Order era. The military is considered to be more decisive, and democracy requires decisiveness and strength. In fact, the opposite is true: democracy requires a lot of debate and less unquestioned command. What is happening today is not just militarization, but also militarism, in the sense of a conception of the military's role in democracy.
Military institutions are indeed designed for violence and coercion, as well as to use weapons, because their basic purpose is to wage armed conflict. Thus, for centuries, militaries around the world have developed the structures, procedures, and individual values needed to win wars. Democracy, on the other hand, is bottom-up, starting from the aspirations of citizens, which are then translated by state officials into policies through a transparent and participatory process.
History has made Indonesia’s democratic tradition strongly influenced by the military. It began with independence supported by physical warfare, continued with the military thinking in the early days of Indonesian independence, and culminated in the doctrine of the dual function of the Indonesian Armed Forces, which was strengthened during the New Order era.
There is a perception that the military should hold political office because that is the only way Indonesia, which is described as “too diverse” and having an “amok” tradition, can be managed. Diversity is considered a threat, while uniformity is considered good because it is easy to identify and regulate. Expressions of criticism are often seen as inciting mass riots, which would be detrimental to the elite. This is the mindset that has been instilled through narratives, formal education, and political performances.
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