Nurturing Optimism at the Start of the New Decade
The year 2020 serves as the gateway of the third decade in the 21st century. A number of achievements in social affairs, politics and economy serves as capitals for Indonesia to grow amid problems.
The year 2020 serves as the gateway of the third decade in the 21st century. A number of achievements in social affairs, politics and economy serves as capitals for Indonesia to grow amid problems.
History shows that the nation has always experienced important events in every decade. This series of events serves as a thread of important lessons for the future.
Let’s take a look at history. At the start of every decade, the nation had important moments. In 1970, for instance, the New Order government began its first Five-Year Development Plan (Repelita). In 2000, the change of decade intersected with the change of century and the momentum of economic improvement in the wake of the 1998 crisis.
In 2020, the Republic of Indonesia will celebrate its 75th anniversary. This start of a new decade can serve as momentum to build optimism amid several national achievements in various sectors.
In politics, optimism grows out of the nation’s continuously improving democracy. This can be seen in the improvement of the Indonesian Democracy Index (IDI) from 67.30 in 2009 to 72.39 in 2018. This data shows growth in our democracy despite dynamics that affect public perception on democracy’s development.
Among the issues that attracted sharp public reactions were the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law amendment plan, which many deem will weaken the anticorruption body. A Kompas poll in mid-December showed that more than half of respondents (59.5 percent) were worried about efforts to weaken the KPK. This will be determined by the KPK’s work moving forward, especially under its new leadership. As we begin this new decade, the KPK and corruption eradication will remain in the public eye.
Efforts to improve democracy is also seen in the improvement of our general election. The 2019 election recorded a positive note on public participation. General Elections Commission (KPU) data showed that voter turnout in the 2019 election was 81.97 percent. This was relatively high.
The election result also shows a positive development on women’s role in politics. In the 1955 Election, only 16 women (5.88 percent) won legislative seats. In the 2019 Election, the number jumped to 118 women (20.52 percent).
Socio-economy
Positive trend is also seen in social affairs, such as in education. In the past few years, Indonesia has successfully increased in pure participation rate in all levels of education. Pure participation rate is the proportion of individuals that go to school in accordance with their age range.
In secondary education in 2011, for instance, the pure participation rate was 47.93. This figure slowly increased and reached 60.53 in 2018. This means that the number of Indonesian children attending school up to secondary education is increasing.
Meanwhile, in health, improvement is seen in the declining prevalence of malnutrition among children under five (balita) – a persistent problem since Indonesia’s independence. In 1998, 10.51 percent of Indonesians aged 0-59 months suffered from malnutrition. This figure went down to 3.9 percent in 2018. Other improvements can be seen in the declining infant mortality rate from 97 in 1,000 in 1991 to 32 in 1,000 in 2017.
In economy, 2020 can be a momentum of revival for our economic growth and equality. Amid global economic uncertainties, Indonesia at least has plenty of experiences in getting out from crises in 1965, 1998 and 2008.
In the past decade, Indonesia’s economy was relatively stable above four percent as many major economies crumble. Indonesia also successfully pushed down its inflation under four percent in the past five years due to price control of several commodities and effective coordination between central and regional governments.
Infrastructure development is also a good capital for Indonesia’s economic growth and equality. Supported by efforts to improve investment permits, Indonesia can grab the opportunities to attract investors in various sectors.
Series of problems
Nevertheless, despite its string of achievements, Indonesia still has a lot of work to do. In economy, the unending trade balance deficit serves as a warning for the country to take immediate actions in the face of potential 2020 recession. In social affairs, despite improvements in education indicators, crucial problems remain. In infrastructure, for instance, many school buildings across regions are damaged. The collapsed roof of Gentong elementary school in Pasuruan, East Java, in November 2019, was a lesson that improvements of education infrastructure would be important.
Another serious problem is school dropouts in various levels of education. In vocational schools (SMK), for instance, 25,337 students dropped out in 2018. This is ironic amid the mushrooming of vocational education programs in the past few years.
In politics, the fluctuating IDI, especially in the aspect of civil freedom, is a warning for Indonesia’ development of democracy. In 2009, civil freedom index was 86.97 or in the good category. In 2018, the index was 78.46 or medium. Civil freedom includes several indicators, including threats or use of violence to hinder freedom of assembly and discriminations based on gender and ethnic identities and against vulnerable groups.
In the end, the year 2020 that will begin on Wednesday (1/1/2020) will also begin the third decade of the 21st century. This new decade is a bridge for Indonesia toward its centenary in 2045. If we can pass the bridge well, achieving social justice for all Indonesians by the country’s centenary will not be impossible. Hopefully. (KOMPAS R&D)