Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the foundational material that structures the entire book. It clarifies that the focus is not on the decline of democracy, but rather on the underlying weaknesses in Indonesia’s democratic practices over the past two decades since the fall of the military dictatorship. The core argument outlined in this chapter is that Indonesia has overlooked essential aspects of the republican form of democracy, emphasizing the need for virtuous citizens and leaders, the principle of nondomination grounded in the rule of law, and a mixed constitution. The political elite has failed to foster the character of its citizens and to emphasize the importance of teaching virtue. As a result, Indonesian citizens are not adequately prepared—politically, socially, or intellectually—to sustain democracy. Furthermore, there is a lack of enlightened political leaders committed to upholding the rule of law and democracy. Finally, the constitutional reforms have not resulted in a fully constitutionalist constitution; instead, the drafters produced only a mere rule-of-law constitution.