How Democracy Works: Indonesia and America

According to Britannica, Democracy, literally, rule by the people. The term is derived from the Greek dmokratia, which was coined from dmos ("people") and kratos ("rule") in the middle of the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens.

Historically, Indonesian democracy survived until the Suharto era. The  Asian financial crisis of 1997 accelerated the end of Suharto's authoritarian era and spurred his wave of democratization in the second half of the 20th century. This era finally entered the transitional period of the so-called. In the early post-authoritarian period from 1999 to 2002, Indonesia experienced dramatic changes, with the introduction of liberal democracy making renegotiation inevitable and the rule of law consolidated into a constitutional system. Reformers were instrumental in preventing the return of authoritarianism in , and the fall of Suharto ushered in a new phase in which democracy was actively debated and eventually led to a series of constitutional reforms.
 Constitutionalism, which limits the arbitrary power of the state, played an important role in  shaping Indonesia's new political situation, along with the introduction of separation of powers, separation of powers, and civil rights, which deliberately imitated  modern Western civilization. Therefore, this constitutional reform agenda is often evaluated and claimed as a victory for reform goals.

Indonesia has recently faced polarized elections, with Joko Widodo (Jokowi) winning a second term as president in 2019. Jokowi, a former furniture salesman and governor of Jakarta, was initially seen as a symbol of hope for Indonesian democracy. However, his term was controversial, including the appointment of his political rival Prabowo as defense minister. The country's democratic situation has been further complicated by the rise of non-opposition democracy, and the main competition in the upcoming elections is focused more on personal drama than political debate.The absence of a strong opposition and  narrow focus on personalities has raised concerns that the elections will not benefit Indonesians.

American democracy has a rich historical background. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker, wrote the influential work Democracy in America, published in two volumes in 1835 and his 1840. Tocqueville's work provides a comprehensive analysis of the American democratic system, with emphasis on the social, political, and cultural aspects of the young nation. He believed that America's democratic system was a case study in the inevitable rise of democracy around the world. Tocqueville's observations and insights remain relevant for understanding the historical development of democracy in America.

The state of democracy in the United States is currently under concern and debate. Various sources say there are signs of democratic decline in the country.
 The Economist now classifies the United States as a "flawed democracy," as opposed to a "perfect democracy" like Canada or Japan. The Brookings Institution report also highlights the systemic crisis facing American democracy and raises concerns about its impact on domestic politics, the economy, and society. Additionally, one survey found that a significant portion of U.S.
 adults are pessimistic about the functioning of democracy in the country, with many expressing concerns about expressing their opinions and the performance of democratic institutions.
 did. Additionally, there is an argument that America's democratic values   have declined relative to other established democracies. Despite these concerns, the United States remains a representative democracy, with government officials elected by the people with the right to vote and participate in the democratic process.